According to a report by The Sun on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Kaduna Central senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Shehu Sani, has cautioned political leaders against disregarding Nigeria’s long-standing practice of rotating presidential power ahead of the 2027 election.
The former senator argued that politicians advocating for the abandonment of the zoning arrangement in 2027 should also be prepared to accept the consequences when the political equation changes and power is expected to return to the North in 2031.
Sani explained that although power rotation is not expressly provided for in Nigeria’s Constitution, the practice has historically served as a political understanding aimed at promoting inclusiveness and maintaining a sense of balance among the country’s different regions.
He maintained that political agreements and conventions should not be respected only when they benefit a particular group. According to him, those who dismiss zoning ahead of the 2027 presidential election should not expect other political actors to uphold the same arrangement when circumstances change in the future.
The former lawmaker stressed that political decisions should be guided by fairness, consistency and consideration for the long-term interests of the country. He urged political leaders to look beyond their immediate ambitions and consider how their actions could influence relationships and expectations between Nigeria’s regions.
Sani also expressed concern that abandoning the established principle of power rotation could undermine trust among different parts of the country. He noted that political stability depends partly on confidence in agreements and informal arrangements that allow various regions to feel represented in the nation’s leadership structure.
He further warned that disregarding the zoning principle in 2027 could establish a precedent that might prove difficult to reverse. Once political understandings are repeatedly ignored, he argued, it could become increasingly difficult to persuade political groups to respect similar arrangements when the balance of power shifts.
Emphasising the importance of consistency, Sani said politicians should recognise that decisions made during one electoral period can have consequences beyond that particular election.
“Those who say they won’t respect the principle of Rotation of power in 2027, should know that it will not be respected in 2031,” he stated.
His comments come as political discussions surrounding the 2027 presidential election continue, with zoning, regional representation and power rotation remaining significant issues in debates about Nigeria’s political future.
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