Zulum Says Presidency Should Return to North After Tinubu’s Second Term

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has said the presidency should return to Northern Nigeria after President Bola Tinubu completes a possible second term in office in 2031.

Zulum made the statement in Kaduna on Sunday after participating in an engagement with Northern women Ulama and Islamic scholars.

According to the governor, northern political leaders supported the emergence of a southern president in 2023 based on an understanding that presidential power would return to the North after the South’s eight-year tenure.

He said the arrangement was intended to promote political stability, national unity and peaceful coexistence between the country’s northern and southern regions.

Zulum urged political leaders to respect the understanding as the country approaches the 2027 general elections. However, the arrangement remains a political position on zoning and power rotation rather than a constitutional requirement.

The governor’s comments echo similar statements by other northern politicians. In February 2025, former All Progressives Congress National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje said the presidency would return to the North after Tinubu’s expected eight-year tenure. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago also urged northern presidential hopefuls to wait until 2031.

Zulum also called for greater attention to the challenges confronting Northern Nigeria, including insecurity, poverty and the increasing number of out-of-school children. He urged Nigerians to remain patient with the Tinubu administration and encouraged cooperation among the country’s regions.

The Borno governor further highlighted the role of women in promoting peace and stability, particularly through child upbringing and community engagement. He urged women to exercise their influence responsibly during elections and estimated that they account for between 60 and 65 per cent of votes cast in Borno State.

Zulum maintained that his position was based on personal conviction and called on political leaders to place Nigeria’s national interest above individual ambitions.