Do you know that some groups of politicians have begun preparations for the 2031 Presidential Election? While some politicians are eyeing the presidency in 2027, there are others who, instead of vying for the forthcoming presidential election, are currently focusing on alignment and political positioning for the 2031 general elections, which is five years away.
Some of these politicians have a strong base. Some of them are former governors, senators, and ministers who have deliberately ignored the 2027 race while preparing instead for the next 5 years for the top post in Nigeria.
Some of them are not concerned about the current happenings in the country’s politics. This group of politicians are working behind the scenes to enhance their chances in 2031, either as president or vice president, if the worse comes to worst for them.
The first name on our list is the former Senate President and former Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Take it or leave it, he remains one of the most influential politicians from the North Central region of the country. He is not a small fry in the business. For over seven years since he left the Senate, he has remained quiet albeit, strategizing on his next move, and he believes his time hasn’t come. He believes 2031 would be his comeback year to vie for the number one office in the country.
Currently, he is building alliances between the North and the South, and he is also at the center of mediation between the aggrieved parties in PDP, APC and ADC. Both at the state and federal levels, he has said repeatedly that he would wait for the turn of the North in 2031, and he stands a very good chance to challenge anyone from the region. Saraki has publicly declared he will not contest in 2027, stating it is “only fair” that the South, which assumed power in 2023, completes an 8-year tenure.
Another politician from the region who is also positioning himself gradually is the current National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuru Ribadu. Based on recent political developments in Nigeria as of early 2026, Nuhu Ribadu, the current National Security Adviser (NSA), has been at the center of intense speculation regarding a potential presidential bid in 2031. This situation is largely defined by a public fallout with former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. While the current political focus is on 2027, analysts suggest that the rivalry between Ribadu and El-Rufai is a long-term game for the 2031 presidency, with Ribadu seen as a key ally of President Tinubu. It has been said that the president may even anoint him for continuity of his vision if he wins the 2027 race.
Remember, he had also vied for the same office a few years ago but failed. Currently, he has been building alliances with popular northern elites. He does seem very focused on the job, but he is someone to watch out for in 2031.
Another presidential candidate who has built a strong reputation in Nigeria is the current Minister of Works, David Umahi. He has become a powerful and respected politician in the South-South and South-East regions, especially with some of the laudable projects he has executed in the last three years of President Tinubu.
A lot of political analysts have projected him as one of the leaders in the region who can be chosen as either the President or Vice President in the near future. The former Ebonyi state governor has been seen as Mr. Project, becoming one of Mr. President’s favorite and most performing minister. Many people in the South-East and South-South regions hold him in high esteem for the modernization of infrastructure he has brought, and the Lagos/Calabar coastal road project has also brought him further into the limelight as a potential future President. As of early 2026, Umahi has made headlines for his strong performance in his ministerial role, often highlighting his previous experience as governor as preparation for his current responsibilities.
What about Nyesom Wike, the current FCT Minister and former Rivers state governor? He is another potential presidential candidate who has positioned himself.
His trajectory in politics makes him a prime potential future president. He is currently the leader in the PDP and wants to lead the party until 2031 to either contest for president or as a running mate to someone. Analysts say that this is one of the reasons he may dump the party.
Right now, he has consistently pledged his loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that he will not contest against him and is committed to supporting his re-election bid. However, he is looking forward to 2031, when he can also vie for the number one seat. Therefore, what he is currently doing is building a strong base starting from Rivers and also ensuring he has the PDP in his corner.
Another politician who is also preparing for 2031 is Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a development which has always pitched him against Nuhu Ribadu, who has been rumored as a successor to the current president in 2031. He is one of the few politicians who want the South to complete its eight years. He has told those willing to listen that he does not nurse that ambition now, but 2031 is the turn of the North, where he also has a good chance. As of early 2026, reports and social media speculation have suggested that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is positioning himself for a 2031 presidential bid rather than contesting in 2027. He is also a potential name to watch out for.
The former Lagos State governor and former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, is another name to watch out for in 2031. Although the former minister has been quiet since he left office as Minister 3 years ago, he still has a good reputation among many politicians of his generation. There are politicians who do not necessarily have to struggle for power, but by popular demand, they find themselves in it; that’s where Fashola belongs. He is a future presidential candidate or vice president because of his experience as a two-term governor of Lagos State and eight years as Minister of Works and Housing.
Finally, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, is widely regarded in Nigerian political circles as potential “presidential material” due to his focused leadership, security efforts, and massive infrastructure development in a conflict-prone state. President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly hailed him as a model for leadership.
Since 2019, Zulum has been recognized for transforming Borno State through heavy investment in education (building model schools), healthcare, and infrastructure. While his name is often associated with discussions surrounding the 2027 presidential alignment, Zulum has largely focused on his ongoing projects, emphasizing the need to address Borno State’s stability and development issues, as shown in reports of him prioritizing his governorship. However, majority of people believe he stands a good chance for the 2031 presidency.
Isaac Abimbade
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