A former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised Nigeria’s rotational presidency system, describing it as “senseless” and counterproductive to national development.
Sowore said this when he featured
on the Tuesday edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.
According to him, “The country should be interested in a president who will run Nigeria better, irrespective of his region. If I have a good president in Nigeria, who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from.
“That is what the majority of the Nigerian people are aspiring for. That is the idea of this federation that all the federating units should be able to have an opportunity”, he said.
He further stressed, “When you zone it to the North, the majority of the Northerners would want to take a shot at it. When you zone it back to the South, the South of Nigeria is not Yoruba or Igbo alone. It is just senseless.”
He also emphasised that the country should prioritise electing a competent leader capable of running the country effectively, regardless of their region.
Sowore advocated for a merit-based approach, where presidential candidates were evaluated based on their qualifications, manifestos, character, and exposure, rather than their geo-political background.
He emphasised that every presidential hopeful should be given a chance, irrespective of their region, and that
” Nigerians should vote based on a candidate’s agenda, character, and exposure, ” he said.
Sowore criticised the zoning arrangement, saying that it fosters division and fails to reflect the nation’s full diversity.
Sowore stressed that what matters most is effective leadership, not regional politics.
He advocated for open, competitive elections where all aspirants have the opportunity to present their ideas to the people.
Sowore rejected the notion that zoning enhances inclusion, insisting that the true essence of federalism lied in providing equal opportunities to all qualified candidates.
The debate over rotational presidency has intensified ahead of the 2027 general elections, with some political stakeholders insisting the South should retain power.
While some believe the South still deserves another term, others, like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are positioning themselves for the presidency, citing fairness and political balance
