Former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, has said that political support from the North may not go to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2027 general election.
Sani explained that the decision is linked to the long-standing principle of zoning in Nigerian politics, which rotates power between the North and South.
According to him, many in the North believe the South is expected to complete its eight-year turn in line with the zoning arrangement, and this will influence political choices ahead of the 2027 election.
He also stated that the North is looking ahead to 2031, when it expects to present its own presidential candidate. Because of this, he argued that voting for Atiku in 2027 could be seen as disrupting the zoning balance.
Speaking on the issue, Sani said the North may avoid supporting Atiku in order not to be accused of undermining the zoning agreement that has shaped Nigeria’s political structure over the years.
He added that both regions are guided by the same political understanding, where the South completes its term while the North prepares for the next cycle.
Sani maintained that these expectations around zoning will play a major role in shaping voter behaviour as the 2027 elections draw closer.