2027 Presidential Election: Why the presidency must remain in the South, before returning to the North

By: Amb. Anderson Osiebe

As Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 general elections, conversations around power rotation have resurfaced with renewed intensity.

At the heart of this debate lies a fundamental question: Should the presidency remain in the South in 2027, before returning to the North, in the spirit of unity, equity, justice and national stability?

Nigeria is a delicate federation, diverse in ethnicity, religion and political history. Since the return to democracy in 1999, an informal but politically sensitive understanding has guided the distribution of presidential power between the North and the South.

This unwritten rotational principle has helped calm tensions, reduce suspicion, and foster a sense of belonging among Nigeria’s federating units.

From 1999 to 2007, the presidency was held by Olusegun Obasanjo (South-West). It shifted to the North with Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007, before returning to the South under Goodluck Jonathan.

Power moved back to the North in 2015 with Muhammadu Buhari, who completed eight years in office. In 2023, the pendulum swung again to the South with the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

So, if this has been the arrangement, why North in 2027?

Against this backdrop, proponents of equity like me, argue that 2027 should consolidate the South’s turn in the interest of fairness. If the North completed eight uninterrupted years from 2015 to 2023, justice demands that the South be allowed the same political stability and opportunity.

Beyond arithmetic fairness, the argument is also about national cohesion. Nigeria has endured deep political mistrust, sectional agitation and identity-driven tensions.

Abruptly truncating the Southern tenure in 2027 could reignite feelings of marginalisation and undermine the fragile trust the rotation principle seeks to protect.

Supporters also maintain that political stability strengthens economic confidence.
Investors and development partners prefer predictability too.

Sustaining zoning arrangements reduces electoral volatility and signals continuity.
However, the broader message is not about permanent entitlement, it is about balance.

After a completed Southern tenure, power can then justifiably rotate back to the North, reinforcing the spirit of give-and-take that sustains multi-ethnic democracies.

Ultimately, Nigeria’s democracy must rise above winner-takes-all politics. The survival of the republic depends not only on ballots cast, but on perceived fairness in the sharing of power.

In 2027, the test will not just be about who wins, but whether Nigeria chooses unity over division, equity over expediency, and peace over provocation.

This is where I stand.

Amb. Anderson Osiebe, Executive Director, HallowMace Foundation Africa, Public Policy Expert and an Administrator writes from Abuja – Nigeria.

– God Bless Nigeria!