As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 presidential election, discussions on zoning and regional unity have taken centre stage. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has given the strongest nod to the zoning principle, urging northern political leaders like Atiku Abubakar, Bala Mohammed, and Nasir El-Rufai to cool down and give zoning a chance.
Akume’s remarks come amid reports that some northern leaders are strategizing for a return to power in 2027, despite President Bola Tinubu’s tenure still in its first term. With the South likely to push for a full eight-year cycle before power rotates again, the North’s political manoeuvers could trigger tensions.
Against Akume’s position, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has asserted that the North lacks a unified plan and is grappling with internal divisions. According to him, the region’s economic struggles and governance failures are lamentable, ergo, the need for a clear vision.