Adamawa State Governor Umaru Fintiri has stated that no politician from the northern region should challenge President Bola Tinubu for the presidency in the 2027 elections.
Fintir, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress last week, insisted that it remains the turn of the South to complete eight years in office in the interest of fairness and national unity.
Speaking during an interview on a programme on Channels Television, Sunrise Daily, on Tuesday, the governor maintained that power rotation was critical to the stability of the country.
“Nobody in the North has business to contest for the presidency at the moment. It is the South’s turn; they should complete their eight years if we are really serious about this country and leadership,” he said.
Fintiri stressed that respecting the zoning arrangement would reinforce unity and strengthen the country’s democratic culture.
“It is still, whether you like to hear it or not, 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 and that we are serious about leadership, then it should rotate, so that we will all be our brothers’ keepers,” he added.
Addressing questions about opposition politics and his political future, the governor said he had not seen any credible presidential aspirant emerge from his former party, the PDP.
“But who is that person who has come out to say he wants to contest for the presidential election in the PDP? I have not seen — we have not seen any for now.
“So, where are we playing the opposition? If I move for the stability of this country, we still believe we should play our part to keep this country as one indivisible nation,” he said.
Fintiri, who described himself as a key player in his former party, said he could not risk his political future based on speculations.
“You know I have been a centre player in this party, my former party, PDP. So I have not seen any presidential candidate who has come out to tell me he wants to contest.
“And I cannot remain and jeopardise my political future with rumours of people who want to contest. They should have made it clear much earlier,” he stated.
When asked about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his reported presidential ambition in 2027, Fintiri declined to engage in controversy.
“Well, I don’t want to join issues. I said PDP. So it is for you to analyse and ask those you are referring to if they are really in PDP,” he said.
On his relationship with Atiku, the governor added, “I still have. There is nothing that has gone bad.”
