A member of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, has argued that the North should allow the South to complete an eight-year presidential tenure before seeking to reclaim power.
Speaking to The Sun, Sani said former President Muhammadu Buhari completed two terms in office, making it fair, under Nigeria’s informal zoning arrangement, for Bola Tinubu or another southern candidate to complete the South’s expected eight years by 2031.
He said the zoning principle played a significant role in the 2023 presidential election and believes it will continue to influence voting patterns in 2027.
Commenting on Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected, Sani questioned whether such a promise could be sustained in Nigeria’s political environment.
“The South also wants to finish its eight years by voting a Southerner in 2027. It is the politics of identity that has compelled Peter Obi to pledge to do only one tenure,” he said.
Sani argued that if Obi became president, political leaders and supporters from the South-East would likely encourage him to seek a second term rather than leave office after four years.
