{
  "id": 9860477,
  "title": "Atiku’s win will end power rotation – Sani",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/atikus-win-will-end-power-rotation-sani",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T23:40:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/atikus-win-will-end-power-rotation-sani/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has stated that if Atiku Abubakar wins the 2027 presidential election, it would effectively put an end to the practice of rotating the presidency between Nigeria's North and South. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sani reiterated his stance that the South should get a full eight-year presidential tenure before the North resumes power. While acknowledging Atiku's constitutional right to contest the election, Sani argued that political considerations should guide the 2027 contest. He proposed that southern candidates should be allowed to compete for the presidency, with the South holding power until 2031. Sani emphasized that while rotational presidency is not constitutionally mandated, it is a principle worth considering for fairness, equity, and national unity. He noted that Buhari's eight-year tenure from 2015 to 2023 saw no serious challenge from the South, and suggested that a similar eight-year period for the South would be fair. Sani cautioned that an Atiku victory could cause significant division and conflict in the country, given the existing crises and opposition from the South.",
  "summary": "Former Senator Shehu Sani says an Atiku Abubakar victory in 2027 would end Nigeria’s informal power rotation, arguing the South should complete its tenure. Read More: https://punchng.com/atikus-win-will-end-power-rotation-sani/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "2027: Atiku’s victory will end rotational presidency in Nigeria – Shehu Sani",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/2027-atikus-victory-will-end-rotational-presidency-in-nigeria-shehu",
        "published": "2026-09-25T20:24:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}