Kwankwaso tells ADC: it is the South's turn in 2027, North should wait till 2031
- Kwankwaso said the South should produce the next president in 2027 and the North should wait until 2031.
- He spoke at his Kano home on Sunday and warned the ADC against fielding a Northern candidate.
- Kwankwaso is Peter Obi's running mate under the NDC and said he gave up his own ambition for the South.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said it is the South's turn to produce Nigeria's president in 2027, and that the North should wait until 2031.
He spoke on Sunday at an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Kano, where he warned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against giving its presidential ticket to a Northern candidate.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, is the running mate of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, who comes from the South.
What Kwankwaso said
He argued that zoning is not written into the constitution, but that fairness demands that when one part of the country has ruled for two terms, the other part should take over.
According to Daily Post, he said: "ADC will lose if it gives ticket to North. It's the turn of the South in 2027. ADC should not give its presidential ticket to the North. North should wait till 2031."
Arise News reported him saying that bringing a Northern candidate at this point would not help peaceful coexistence and could create confusion and disharmony among Nigerians.
He also recalled contesting for president three times before stepping aside, saying he sacrificed his ambition for Obi because Obi is credible, from the South, and shares his goals.
"I sacrificed my ambition for Peter Obi because he is credible and from the South."
Kwankwaso urged the ADC to zone its ticket to the South if it wants to win in 2027, saying Nigerians want fairness and equity.
The reports did not say whether the ADC has settled on a candidate or a zoning plan.
Why it matters
Talk of zoning matters to ordinary Nigerians because it shapes who gets to run for president and which parts of the country feel included in power. Supporters of rotational presidency say it keeps the peace between North and South; critics say it should not matter more than a candidate's record.
For voters, the debate is also about what each camp promises on the cost of living, fuel prices, security and jobs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kwankwaso's remarks also put pressure on the ADC, which could split the opposition vote if it fields a Northern candidate against Obi.
What happens next
- The ADC will face questions on whether it zones its presidential ticket to the South.
- Obi and Kwankwaso are expected to keep making the case that the South should complete its two terms.
- Nigerians will watch how other parties respond as the 2027 election draws closer.
