Former Borno governor Ali Modu Sheriff says Atiku Abubakar should shelve his 2027 presidential bid and wait until 2031, insisting an unwritten regional power-sharing arrangement favours the South this cycle.
ATIKU MUST WAIT TILL 2031, NOT NORTH’S TURN NOW — SHERIFF
Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has told Atiku Abubakar to drop his 2027 presidential ambition, arguing it remains the South’s turn to produce Nigeria’s president, Vanguard reports.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Sheriff said the North would not back Atiku’s bid because of a post-civil war regional agreement meant to ensure balance in leadership. “For Atiku, it’s not our time now… it is the turn for the South. Buhari just finished 8 years,” he said, adding that Atiku “has to wait till 2031.”
Sheriff expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would win a second term in 2027, though he said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not be complacent ahead of the election.
He also dismissed the presidential chances of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi, saying Northern voters would not support him, citing Obi’s tenure as Anambra governor. When reminded of Obi’s strong showing in Nasarawa and Plateau in 2023, Sheriff argued the political landscape has shifted.
Sheriff further claimed some allies of former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso were opposed to any political alliance involving Obi.
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