Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said an Atiku Abubakar victory in the 2027 presidential election could bring an end to Nigeria’s informal rotational presidency arrangement.

Sani made the comment during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, September 25, 2026, while arguing that political parties should consider fielding presidential candidates from the southern part of the country.

According to Sani, an Atiku victory would create resentment in parts of southern Nigeria because the presidency would return to the North before what he considers the South’s expected eight-year period had been completed.

“If Atiku wins, it means that is the end of rotational presidency in Nigeria,” Sani said, adding that he believed such an outcome could deepen political tensions.

He argued that allowing a southern candidate to occupy the presidency for eight years would create an opportunity for the North to return to power in 2031 without similar resistance.

Sani acknowledges Atiku’s constitutional right

Despite his position on power rotation, Sani stressed that he was not calling for Atiku to be prevented from contesting the election.

“I never said Atiku should not run. Constitutionally, he has a right to run for any election,” he said.

Sani instead advocated for southern political parties to field candidates and allow the electorate to determine the winner.

He specifically mentioned Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the African Peoples Movement as possible southern candidates.

Rotation is not a constitutional requirement

Nigeria’s rotational presidency is an informal political arrangement rather than a provision of the Constitution. Political parties have historically used zoning to distribute presidential tickets between the North and South.

Sani’s argument therefore concerns political convention and power-sharing rather than a constitutional restriction on who can contest the presidency. Channels Television reported that he acknowledged that the Constitution does not bar Atiku or any other northerner from seeking the office.

The 2027 race is expected to involve several prominent political figures, including President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi and African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore.

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s current election calendar lists January 16, 2027 as the date for the nationwide presidential and National Assembly elections.

Sani’s comments add another dimension to the growing debate over zoning, regional representation and the distribution of political power ahead of the 2027 presidential election.