Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and prominent human rights activist, has publicly condemned Nigeria’s rotational presidency system, arguing that the country should prioritize competence over regional affiliations when selecting its leader. Speaking in Lagos on Monday, Sowore emphasized that the focus should be on electing a president capable of effectively governing Nigeria, regardless of their geopolitical zone.
“If I have a good president in Nigeria who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from,” Sowore declared. “That is what the majority of Nigerians are aspiring for. The idea of this federation is that all federating units should have an opportunity.”
Sowore criticized the practice of zoning the presidency between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions, describing it as “senseless” and divisive. He argued that zoning often limits the pool of candidates to specific regions, sidelining other qualified individuals. “When you zone it to the north, the majority of northerners want to take a shot at it. When you zone it to the south, the south is not just Yoruba or Igbo alone,” he said.
Instead of regional considerations, Sowore advocated for a merit-based approach, where presidential candidates are evaluated based on their qualifications, manifestos, character, and exposure. “Zoning the presidency to the worst character in the country is not going to get you anywhere,” he stated. “Give everybody a chance. Let them come and contest, present their agenda, and let Nigerians decide.”
The debate over rotational presidency has intensified recently, with some political stakeholders insisting that the presidency should remain in the southern region for another term following President Bola Tinubu’s election in 2023. Tinubu, a southerner from Lagos State, succeeded former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner from Katsina State, who served two terms from 2015 to 2023.
However, opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from Adamawa State in the north, have signaled their intent to contest the presidency in 2027. Atiku has called for a coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), fueling discussions about regional power-sharing agreements.
Sowore’s remarks have reignited conversations about reforming Nigeria’s political system to prioritize competence and unity over regional quotas, as the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections.
