Former Borno State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Ali Modu Sheriff, has said the chances of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar getting Northern support for the 2027 Presidential election were slim, arguing that the North believes power should remain in the South.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Sheriff today on Monday insisted that Nigeria’s principle of regional power rotation should be respected, especially after former President Muhammadu Buhari completed two terms in office.
He said the North has no business aspiring to the presidency in 2027, insisting that Atiku should shelve any ambition till 2031.
Sheriff said that political leaders adopted the power-sharing arrangement after the civil war to foster national unity and ensure fairness among the country’s regions.
“After the civil war, our leaders said this situation will no longer be in Nigeria; there is a regional agreement. Atiku is not our time now. It is his own, the South. It is his turn. Buhari just done 8 years.
“If Atiku wants to be president, he should wait. He is a leader in Northern Nigeria, he is eminently qualified, but it is not our time now, he has to wait until 2031. “That is the time for the North; for now it is time for the South,” he said.
APC chieftain, also confident President Bola Tinubu would get a second term in office, said the ruling party would still campaign vigorously ahead of the election.
Sheriff also dismissed the presidential ambition of former Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, who is expected to contest the 2027 election under the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State had damaged his chances of attracting Northern voters, he also alleged, adding that some Northern political supporters have expressed reservations about any alliance involving the former Anambra governor.
