Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has ruled out contesting the 2027 presidential election, citing his support for zoning the presidency to the southern region of the country.
Speaking on Thursday as a guest on Politics Today, Saraki stated clearly:
“No, I’m not running for president in 2027.”
The former lawmaker acknowledged his long-standing ambition to lead the nation but explained that his decision was driven by principles of political fairness and party consensus following the 2023 general election.
“I do, I do, I would not lie if I say I don’t,” Saraki admitted when asked about his presidential ambitions.
“But after the 2023 election… having Nigeria choose to elect President Bola Tinubu from the South, I think we felt that, look, it’s only fair to allow the South to complete eight years.
“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.
When asked whether the presidency should remain in the South for 2027, Saraki reaffirmed his stance, emphasising that it aligns with the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) internal resolution.
Reflecting on the 2023 election, he recalled his support for Atiku Abubakar, noting that the party had adopted an open contest approach at the time.
“Because in 2023, the final recommendation of the party allowed it to be open for all,” he said.
Addressing concerns over fairness in power rotation, Saraki argued that historical trends show the South has occupied presidential 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, adding that the party’s current position reflects post-election realities.
On developments in Kwara State, Saraki explained that his recent political involvement was motivated by concerns over governance and citizens’ welfare.
“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.
“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 said.
Saraki emphasised his sense of responsibility as a political leader to support initiatives aimed at improving governance through the PDP.
“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 added.
He also criticised the current security situation in the state, attributing the challenges to governance lapses rather than broader national trends.
“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 previously pursued the presidency on multiple occasions. He contested the PDP primaries in 2023 but lost to Atiku Abubakar.
He also ran in 2019 and briefly declared interest in 2011 before stepping down in support of a consensus candidate.
