Akume Says 1999 Power Rotation Agreement Supports Tinubu’s Re-election Bid

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said the power-rotation understanding reached between northern and southern political leaders in 1999 supports President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Akume made the statement on Saturday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during a rally organised by the North-Central Grassroots Mobilisation Network to endorse Tinubu as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

He said the arrangement provided for the presidency to alternate between the North and South in eight-year intervals, arguing that the North should wait until 2031 to produce the next president after Tinubu completes his second term, if re-elected.

Akume recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari served for eight years, maintaining that Tinubu should be allowed to complete the corresponding period under the rotation arrangement. He urged northern politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 to reconsider their ambitions.

The rally attracted APC governors, senators and party leaders from Benue, Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Moving a motion to adopt Tinubu as the region’s sole presidential candidate, Akume cited the administration’s policies and projects, including infrastructure development, education financing and the removal of petrol subsidies.

The motion was seconded by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule on behalf of the governors from the region.

Sule defended the President’s record, pointing to reported improvements in oil production, foreign reserves and capital market performance, alongside infrastructure projects and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, also urged voters in the North-Central region to support Tinubu, citing federal road projects and political appointments involving people from the region.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who addressed the rally, said the administration’s economic reforms were beginning to show results and urged supporters to promote the President’s second-term ambition. She also highlighted social support initiatives and encouraged students to access education loans.

In a related development, the APC Presidential Campaign Council is scheduled to be inaugurated at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on October 14. The council’s Director-General, former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, said campaign activities were expected to begin with a rally in Kaduna on October 24, followed by engagements in Port Harcourt and Maiduguri.

The 1999 power-rotation arrangement is a political understanding rather than a constitutional requirement, and its application remains a subject of political debate.