Politics
Atiku revisits zoning debate, says South has spent more years in power since 1999
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has weighed in again on Nigeria’s long-running zoning debate, arguing that the Southern region has spent more years in power under democratic rule than the North since 1999.
Speaking during a media interview, Atiku said available political history shows that the South has held the presidency for about 18 years, while the North has governed for roughly 10 years.
He said this imbalance challenges the narrative that the North has been politically disadvantaged in the current democratic dispensation, urging a more historical assessment of power rotation discussions.
Atiku made the remarks while addressing questions around fairness and equity in Nigeria’s zoning arrangement ahead of future elections.
He also noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains one of the few political parties with zoning formally embedded in its structure, while others have adopted it informally in practice.
Reflecting on earlier constitutional debates, the former Vice President admitted he once opposed the idea of rotational presidency but now believes it could help ensure fairer distribution of political power across Nigeria’s regions.
The comments come amid renewed political discussions on zoning and power-sharing arrangements as the country edges closer to the 2027 general elections, with parties and alliances already positioning for advantage.
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