Senate Minority Leader and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Senator Abba Moro, has declared that Nigeria’s presidency should remain in the southern region until 2031, in line with the country’s unwritten rotational power arrangement between the North and South. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the Benue South senator warned political parties against fielding northern candidates in the 2027 presidential election, cautioning that such moves might backfire at the polls.
Abba Moro referenced the 2023 general election, where PDP presented former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—another northerner—shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari, also from the North, completed his eight-year tenure. He explained that this decision went against the expectations of Nigerians who were yearning for regional balance in leadership, and was a major factor that contributed to the PDP’s defeat.
“In 2023, the PDP, in a bid to unseat the APC, fielded Atiku Abubakar against the moral compass of the unwritten North-South agreement. It backfired. Nigerians chose a southern candidate, Bola Tinubu, to uphold that convention,” Abba Moro said.
Tinubu’s Southern Tenure Should Run Its Course
Senator Abba Moro argued that President Bola Tinubu, who emerged victorious in the last election and began his term in 2023, should be allowed to complete the South’s turn by finishing an eight-year cycle, similar to his northern predecessor, Buhari. Though Abba Moro didn’t endorse any particular candidate for 2027, he stressed that deviating from this rotational rhythm could create political instability.
“The reasonable thing to do is for the South to complete its eight years. Then, by 2031, the North can take its turn again. It’s not written in any constitution, but it’s a convention that ensures equity and political stability,” Abba Moro asserted.
He also emphasized the constitutional provision that allows any elected president to serve for two terms, noting that altering this rhythm midstream for political gain would only generate public resentment and further polarize the electorate.
PDP Internal Crisis and Departure of Atiku, Okowa
In a scathing remark during the interview, Abba Moro described the exit of PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, as “good riddance to bad rubbish.” According to him, both leaders were responsible for exacerbating the post-election crisis that rocked the PDP and damaged its cohesion.
He accused the duo of undermining party unity by engaging in internal wrangling that weakened the party’s performance and influence. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that the PDP would recover from the internal sabotage and re-emerge stronger as the main opposition force ahead of 2027.
“Their departure gives the PDP an opportunity to reinvent itself. We now have a chance to regroup and project a clearer, more unified vision for the country,”Abba Moro stated.
Opposition Coalition Eyes 2027 Upset
Ahead of the 2027 elections, major opposition figures have coalesced around a new alliance under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform. This emerging coalition includes political heavyweights such as Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola.
Their objective is to present a formidable challenge to President Tinubu, whose administration has faced criticism over Nigeria’s worsening economy, surging inflation, and rising cost of living. The coalition believes the over 12 million combined votes received by Atiku and Obi in the 2023 polls—significantly more than the votes that brought Tinubu to power—could translate into electoral victory if properly harnessed.
Analysts, however, point out that ideological differences and regional ambitions among coalition members could complicate efforts to unify behind a single candidate.
2027: A Defining Moment for Nigeria’s Democracy Says Abba Moro
As Nigeria marches toward another election cycle, the issue of regional equity and rotation of power is once again shaping political discourse. Senator Abba Moro’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment in southern Nigeria that power should not return to the North so soon after an eight-year tenure by President Buhari.
Whether the PDP and other opposition groups will Need Abba
Moro’s warning remains to be seen. For now, the debate over zoning, alliance-building, and economic reform promises to dominate Nigeria’s political landscape in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
As the race heats up, one thing is clear: the path to Aso Rock in 2027 will not only be defined by party loyalty, but also by regional balancing, political memory, and economic realities facing millions of Nigerians.
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