Atiku should forget 2027 presidential race, wait till 2031 – Ali Modu Sheriff

Former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, has dismissed the 2027 presidential chances of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, insisting that the North will not support either of them.

Sheriff, an All Progressives Congress chieftain, spoke on Monday night while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he argued that President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete eight years in office.

According to him, Atiku, a former vice president, is qualified and respected, but the 2027 presidency should not return to the North.

He said the North had already completed eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari and should therefore wait until 2031 before seeking power again.

“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,” Sheriff said.

“President Buhari has finished eight years of being in charge, so now it’s the South’s turn.”

Sheriff also took a harder swipe at Obi, saying he was not worried about the former Anambra governor’s presidential ambition because Northerners would not support him.

“I don’t worry about Peter Obi because I know Northerners will never support him,” he said.

The former governor claimed that Obi’s past record in Anambra State remained an issue for some Northerners, especially those advising former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, against aligning with 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,” Sheriff said.

He added that Kwankwaso’s supporters may remain loyal to him if he runs for president, but would not back him if he teams up with Obi.

“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,” he said.

Sheriff’s comments come as opposition figures continue to weigh alliances and possible coalitions ahead of the 2027 general election.

His remarks are also likely to deepen debate over zoning, Northern support, Tinubu’s second-term ambition and the opposition’s struggle to build a united front before the next presidential race.