The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has urged northern politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 to respect Nigeria’s power rotation arrangement and allow the South to complete its eight-year tenure.
Akume said the power-sharing understanding between the North and South remained critical to national unity, political stability and the sustenance of democratic governance.
According to a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the SGF, Chris Ugwuegbulam, Akume described the arrangement as “a fundamental understanding that has sustained national cohesion, fairness and the growth of democracy since the return to civilian rule in 1999.”
The SGF spoke on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), Nigeria, led by its Supreme Knight, Sir Steve Adehi.
Recalling the origins of the agreement, Akume said it was reached in Kaduna in 1999 after consultations among governors-elect elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other prominent political leaders.
He explained that the arrangement was designed to ensure an equitable distribution of political power and prevent either region from feeling permanently excluded from the presidency.
Under the agreement, presidential power would alternate between the North and South in eight-year cycles, beginning with the South, as a means of promoting political balance, strengthening mutual trust and preserving Nigeria’s unity.
Akume said the understanding emerged from concerns about the concentration of political power in one region and the need for a deliberate framework to promote fairness and national inclusion.
He, however, expressed displeasure over attempts by northern presidential aspirants to contest the presidency before the South completes its current eight-year tenure.
The SGF insisted that the established sequence should be respected, arguing that the arrangement must be allowed to run its course.
He maintained that following the eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the South should be allowed to complete its turn in accordance with the power rotation principle.
Akume further argued that zoning should not be treated as a temporary political convenience but as an enduring understanding founded on fairness, mutual respect and national stability.
Akume Calls for Support for Government Reforms
The SGF also called for a broader assessment of the Federal Government’s development agenda, taking into account both immediate economic challenges and the long-term requirements of national growth.
He stressed that sustained cooperation among the Federal, State and Local Governments would be essential to improving citizens’ welfare.
Akume also commended the Knights of St. Mulumba for their charitable interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable members of society.
Earlier, Adehi said the organisation had funded medical treatment for patients, helped inmates settle outstanding financial obligations to facilitate their release from correctional facilities, provided boreholes, renovated schools and supported hospitals.
He explained that the initiatives were driven by the recognition that government alone could not address the country’s numerous social and economic challenges.
Adehi called for greater private philanthropy, partnerships and community-based interventions to complement government efforts and improve living conditions across the country.
