Former Minority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Kumalia has weighed in on Nigeria’s power rotation debate, stating that by 2027, the South would have held the presidency for 18 out of 28 years since the return to democratic rule in 1999 while the North would have occupied the office for only 10 years.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV from 11:23, Kumalia broke down the distribution of presidential power across the country’s regions. He emphasized the need for a fair and equitable rotation of power to maintain national unity and political stability.
“Out of the 28 years, hopefully by 2027 when his first term would have elapsed, the North has only spent 10 years in governance,” Kumalia stated. “Eight years of President Buhari and two years of President Yar’Adua. The remaining 18 years have been the South that is in office.”
Kumalia’s comments come amid growing discussions over which region should produce Nigeria’s next president, especially as political stakeholders begin to strategize ahead of the 2027 general elections. He suggested that, for equity and fairness, the North should be considered, pointing to the imbalance in years spent in power.
The interview has sparked renewed debates on zoning and rotational presidency, a sensitive political issue in Nigeria’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious landscape. Observers say Kumalia’s remarks could influence internal party dynamics as political alignments begin to take shape.
With Tinubu expected to complete his first term in 2027, the question of which region should produce the next president remains a critical conversation in Nigeria’s evolving democratic experience
