Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has declared that he will not contest in the 2027 presidential election, citing his support for maintaining power in the southern region of Nigeria.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Saraki said, “No, I’m not running for president in 2027.”
He admitted that he has long harboured presidential ambitions but explained that his current stance is guided by fairness and internal party agreements following the 2023 elections.
“I do, I do, I would not lie if I say I don’t,” he said when asked about his ambition. “But after the 2023 election… having Nigeria choose to elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the South, I think we felt that, look, it’s only fair to allow the South to complete eight years.”
Saraki added that during party deliberations last year, he supported zoning the presidency to the South in 2027 and is committed to respecting that decision.
“So when the party met last year to discuss zoning, I supported the position that the presidency should be zoned to the South in 2027. To abide by that decision, I have ruled out contesting,” he said.
Reflecting on the 2023 election, Saraki explained that his support for Atiku Abubakar was based on the party’s decision to keep the race open to all aspirants at the time.
“Because in 2023… the final recommendation of the party allowed it to be open for all,” he noted.
On the broader issue of power rotation, Saraki argued that historically, the South has held power longer than the North.
“If you do the mathematics… there are fewer years that the North has been in power than the South. The numbers support those who chose to run,” he said, while noting that the party’s current position reflects post-election realities.
Turning to state politics, Saraki addressed his recent political engagements in Kwara State, saying they are driven by concerns over governance and the wellbeing of residents.
“It’s not that I want to win Kwara by all means. I’ve been closer to the people… and I’ve seen the pain they’ve gone through,” he said.
“I’ve seen the mistakes that have been made, and the fact that they haven’t got the kind of government they expected, including the hardship and insecurity.”
He added that he feels a responsibility as a political leader to help improve governance in the state through the Peoples Democratic Party.
“As a responsible leader, I hold it as my responsibility to do my best to ensure they have the best type of governance, which I believe the PDP, through our candidates, can provide,” he said.
On security, Saraki claimed the situation in Kwara has deteriorated compared to when he served as governor.
“I believe that, based on the period when I was governor, this situation was not like this.
“Most of those bandits have looked for places of least resistance… and found Kwara available because the government took its eye off the ball,” he said.
Saraki has made several attempts at the presidency over the years. He contested in the 2023 primaries but lost to Atiku Abubakar, also ran in 2019, and had earlier shown interest in 2011 before stepping down.
What you should know
Bukola Saraki has ruled out contesting the 2027 presidential election, aligning with his party’s decision to maintain power in the South after President Tinubu’s election in 2023.
While he admits to having presidential ambitions, he says fairness and zoning agreements influenced his decision. Saraki also raised concerns about governance and security in Kwara State, pledging to work through the PDP to improve conditions.
His stance reflects ongoing debates around power rotation and political strategy ahead of 2027.
