2027: South Should Complete Eight Years As President, Says Abba Moro

Senate Minority Leader and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Abba Moro, has said that the presidency should remain in the southern region until 2031 to allow the South complete an eight-year tenure. Speaking during a political programme on Channels Television on Sunday, Moro argued that Nigeria’s stability and unity depend on adherence to the informal North-South power rotation arrangement. The senator representing Benue South stated that since President Bola Tinubu from the South assumed office in 2023 following the eight-year tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari from the North, it is only fair for the South to hold the presidency for another term. He warned that any attempt by political parties to present a northern candidate in 2027 could backfire, as Nigerians are becoming increasingly conscious of the need for balanced power sharing. Moro said the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 general elections was partly due to the party's failure to respect the zoning principle, having presented former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, as its candidate after Buhari’s administration. According to him, many Nigerians believed the decision contradicted the principle of equity and ultimately rejected the party at the polls. He noted that the electorate made a clear statement in 2023 by voting for a southern candidate and emphasized that the same principle should guide the 2027 elections. Moro stated that allowing the South to complete an eight-year cycle will not only respect the rotational understanding but also foster national unity. Commenting on the recent defections from the PDP, Moro said the party is not shaken by the exit of Atiku and his 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa. He described their departure as “good riddance to bad rubbish,” adding that the PDP would reorganize, reposition, and present a formidable front ahead of 2027. He expressed confidence in the PDP’s ability to bounce back and cautioned all political stakeholders to act in the interest of justice, fairness, and national cohesion. Moro reiterated that the presidency should remain in the South until 2031 to complete the regional rotation before returning to the North.