Former Borno State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Ali Modu Sheriff, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should shelve his 2027 presidential ambition, insisting that it is still the South’s turn to produce Nigeria’s president.

Sheriff stated this on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he argued that the North would not support Atiku’s bid because of an unwritten power-sharing arrangement among Nigeria’s political leaders.

According to him, the understanding reached after the civil war was aimed at ensuring regional balance in the country’s leadership.

“After the civil war our leaders have said that there will no longer be this situation in Nigeria, there is a regional agreement. For Atiku, it’s not our time now. He is on his own because it is the turn for the South. Buhari just finished 8 years,” Sheriff said.

“If Atiku wants to be president he can wait, he is a leader in Northern Nigeria, he is 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 time for the South.”

The former governor expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would secure a second term in office in 2027, although he stressed that the APC would not be complacent ahead of the election.

Sheriff also dismissed the presidential ambition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, saying the former Anambra State governor would not enjoy support from Northern voters.

“I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know that Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi,” he said.

When reminded that Obi secured substantial votes in states such as Nasarawa and Plateau during the 2023 presidential election, Sheriff argued that the political landscape had changed.

“The situation is different now, you know why? Peter Obi when he was a governor chased all the Northerners out of Anambra State,” he alleged.

Sheriff further claimed that some Northern political figures, including supporters of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, were unwilling to back any alliance involving 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.

His comments come amid increasing political realignments and consultations by opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election.

Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno State, on Monday said the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi can’t stay in a party that won’t make him its presidential candidate.

Sheriff claimed that Obi will exit any political party that fails to make him presidential candidate.

Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor insisted that Obi is pursuing an agenda.

He said: “The point is that he, Peter Obi, is a candidate and the last time you invited me here I told you that people like Peter Obi can never be in one political party because he is pursuing an agenda.

“If he can’t be a presidential candidate he would move out. Today he has gone to like 20 political parties to become a candidate.

“If I, Ali Modu Sheriff, will come out here and say that I only believe in Borno State and not Nigeria then I’m not fit to be Nigerian because our leaders have fought to keep us together.”

Former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, has said the African Democratic Congres, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, should wait till 2031 to become Nigeria’s president because President Bola Tinubu will complete his eight-year term.

Sheriff also said the North will not back the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, even though he has Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.

Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday night, Sheriff stated that the North will never vote for Obi.

Sheriff said: “I don’t worry about Peter Obi because I know Northerners will never support him.

“The situation is different now. During Peter Obi’s time as governor, he worked to get Northerners to leave Anambra State. This is what people in Kano are telling Kwankwaso now.

“They claim they have always stood by him and will keep doing so if he runs for president, but they won’t support him if he sides with Peter Obi.

“For Atiku, this is not the North’s turn. He is a well-respected leader and very qualified, but he has to wait until 2031. President Buhari has finished eight years of being in charge, so now it’s the South’s turn.”