Sowore argued that the emphasis on zoning the presidency is misguided and does not serve the interests of the Nigerian people.
“If I have a good president in Nigeria, who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from,” Sowore stated. “That is what the majority of the Nigerian people are aspiring for.”
He criticized the idea that zoning the presidency to a particular region guarantees quality leadership, describing such reasoning as “senseless.” According to him, every presidential aspirant should be given a fair chance to contest, regardless of their geographic origin.
“The south of Nigeria is not just Yoruba or Igbo. When you zone it to the north, all northerners want a shot; when you zone it back to the south, who defines what part of the south? This approach is flawed,” he said.
Sowore emphasized that factors such as qualifications, manifestos, character, and leadership capacity should be the determining criteria in electing a president. “Zoning the presidency to the worst character in the country is not going to make you get anywhere,” he warned.
He urged political stakeholders and voters to demand clear agendas from all aspirants and assess them based on their vision, experience, and integrity.
The debate over rotational presidency has intensified in recent months, particularly as political forces begin strategizing for the 2027 general elections. President Bola Tinubu, a Southerner from Lagos State, succeeded Northern-born Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. While some argue that the South should retain power for another term, others—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the North—are already positioning themselves for a return bid.
