Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has endorsed the principle of rotational presidency ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that it is the South’s turn to retain the office.
Fintiri, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the remarks on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
While acknowledging that any Nigerian is constitutionally eligible to contest for office, the governor said fairness and national unity require that the presidency remain in the South for a full eight-year cycle.
“There is no business of anybody in the north to do with the presidency at the moment. It is the turn of the south; they should complete their eight years, if we are really serious about this country. It should rotate so that we will all be brother’s keepers,” he said.
Among potential contenders is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, who has since joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
Fintiri, however, threw his weight behind President Bola Tinubu, describing him as the candidate endorsed by the APC and urging support for his tenure to run its course.
“What else do we want as a state? We won’t force anybody to be a presidential candidate, which means we will continue to support our people to play local politics.
“Everybody knows we are organized, and if we push further, we can still win elections. But who is that person who has come out to say he wants to contest for the presidential election in the PDP? We have seen none for now,” he said.
Responding to questions about his relationship with Atiku, the Waziri of Adamawa, Fintiri said political differences have not affected their personal ties.
“I still have, there is nothing that has gone bad. It is just that everybody has taken their political ways. I am today in APC, they are in another party,” he stated.
Reiterating his stance, the governor stressed that national stability should guide political decisions.
“It is still the turn of the south to complete. A northerner has no business at the moment to vie for the office of the President.
“If there is no other candidate, we should support Bola Tinubu GCFR to complete his tenure. After all, he has done so much. He initiated good policies that are working, that are showing us light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.
