ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Borno State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Ali Modu Sheriff stated on Monday, July 6, 2026, that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar must postpone his presidential ambition until 2031 to allow the southern region of Nigeria to retain the presidency.
Okay News reports that Sheriff made the remarks during an appearance on a Channels Television political program, where he argued that northern voters would not back Abubakar due to an informal power-sharing arrangement among political figures. He stated that an understanding reached following the Nigerian civil war was designed to maintain regional balance in national 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,” Sheriff said.
The former governor stated that President Bola Tinubu would win a second term in office in 2027, though he added that the ruling party would not become complacent. Sheriff also dismissed the presidential prospects of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, stating that voters in Northern Nigeria would not support the former Anambra State governor.
“I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know that Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi,” Sheriff said.
When reminded that Obi secured votes in states such as Nasarawa and Plateau during the 2023 presidential election, Sheriff disputed the current relevance of those figures. “The situation is different now, you know why? Peter Obi when he was a governor chased all the Northerners out of Anambra State,” Sheriff said.
Sheriff stated that northern political figures were unwilling to form alliances with the NDC candidate, referencing discussions involving supporters of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso. “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,” Sheriff said.
