ABUJA — Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has dismissed the chances of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that “the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, will retain power.”
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Mr Sheriff argued that “neither Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, nor Obi, the candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, stands a realistic chance of defeating Tinubu.” He maintained that “Mr Obi would struggle to secure support across Northern Nigeria, despite his performance in parts of the region during the 2023 presidential election.”
“I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know that Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi,” Mr Sheriff said. When reminded that Mr Obi won significant votes in states such as Nasarawa and Plateau in the last election, the former governor said “the political landscape had changed.” “The situation is different now. Peter Obi, when he was a governor, chased all the Northerners out of Anambra State,” Mr Sheriff alleged.
He also claimed that “supporters of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had indicated they would not support any political alliance involving Mr Obi.” “This is what Kano people are telling Kwankwaso now, that we always supported you and we will support you if you run for president, but we will not support you to go with Peter Obi,” he said.
Mr Sheriff further criticised Mr Obi for calling on President Tinubu to resign over insecurity, arguing that “Nigeria’s security challenges predate the current administration.” “We don’t just go and be condemning the president because there is insecurity in Nigeria,” he said, adding that “Tinubu was making genuine efforts to tackle the country’s security problems.”
On Mr Atiku’s presidential ambition, Mr Sheriff said “the North would not support another northern candidate in 2027 because it remains the South’s turn to occupy the presidency.” According to him, “Nigeria’s political leaders reached an understanding after the civil war to ensure regional balance in the rotation of presidential power.” “After the civil war, our leaders agreed that there would no longer be this situation in Nigeria. There is a regional agreement. For Atiku, it is not our time now. He is on his own because it is the turn of the South. Buhari just finished eight years,” he said. “If Atiku wants to be president, he can wait. He is a leader in Northern Nigeria and eminently qualified, but it is not our time now. He has to wait till 2031. That is the time for the North. For now, it is the turn of the South.”
Mr Sheriff expressed confidence that “Tinubu would secure a second term in office in 2027 but said the APC would not take victory for granted.” He said “the ruling party would continue to mobilise support across the country and work hard ahead of the next general election.”