‘Northern Politicians Should Wait Until 2031 for Presidential Ambitions’ — SGF George Akume Declares

Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has advised northern political figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—to shelve plans for contesting the presidency in 2027, and instead prepare for the 2031 election cycle.

He emphasized that the informal zoning agreement favors the South in the upcoming electoral transition.

Akume highlighted the importance of allowing President Bola Tinubu to complete a potential eight-year tenure, arguing that premature northern ambition could disrupt national unity and the delicate balance of power.

He insisted this strategy is rooted in historical consensus achieved—such as in previous Kaduna political dialogues—which should be respected to avoid destabilising the country.

Akume also assured that if divine will favours Atiku’s presidency—even at age 90—it would still come to pass, but not before 2031.

Beyond political rotation, the SGF defended the administration’s economic reforms—such as subsidy removal and unified foreign exchange windows—arguing they are vital to reversing past governance failures.

He urged Nigerians to allow the Tax Reform Bills to advance through proper legislative processes, stressing that these initiatives would soon deliver visible results across the country.