Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has called on the opposition coalition to select its presidential candidate from the Southwest region ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing principles of fairness, equity, and justice.

Speaking at a press conference held at his residence in Kaduna on Monday, June 2, 2025, Sani emphasized that choosing a Southwestern candidate would balance regional representation in Nigeria's political landscape.

"If there should be another presidential candidate from the opposition, that candidate should be from the South West because that is equity, justice and that is fairness," Sani stated.

The former lawmaker's recommendation comes as prominent Northern politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, lead the opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Sani argued that Northern leadership had previously failed to address security challenges in various parts of the country. "Under the last administration, all heads of the security apparatus were from Northern extraction, they never stopped terrorism in the North, they never stopped banditry in the Northwest, they never stopped killings in Benue state, in Plateau, and most part of the North central states," he pointed out.

The statement follows recent declarations by opposition figures. El-Rufai had recently vowed that the opposition would work to remove President Tinubu from power in 2027, while Atiku described himself as a "conspirator" against Tinubu's administration, accusing the current government of "weaponizing poverty" in Nigeria.

Sani's position appears to contrast with his earlier statements supporting President Tinubu. In related news reports, he had previously urged the North to support Tinubu to complete eight years in office, praising the president's performance.

The emerging opposition coalition has faced criticism from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with party chieftains predicting that the anti-Tinubu agenda will fail in 2027.