Hakeem Baba-Ahmed’s comments touch on one of the most sensitive and enduring questions in Nigerian politics: should leadership be determined by geographical balance or by competence alone?
For decades, zoning has been used as an informal mechanism to manage Nigeria’s diversity and maintain a sense of inclusion among the country’s various regions. While it is not a constitutional requirement, it has become deeply embedded in the political culture of many parties and is often viewed as a tool for preserving national stability.
What makes Baba-Ahmed’s remarks significant is that they directly challenge this convention. By arguing that competence should outweigh regional considerations, he is positioning the PRP within a school of thought that believes Nigeria’s leadership challenges stem more from the quality of governance than from where leaders come from.
His reference to former President Muhammadu Buhari appears intended to reinforce that argument. The point he is making is that regional origin alone does not guarantee effective leadership. In his view, a leader’s performance should be the primary consideration rather than the zone, religion, or ethnicity they represent.
At the same time, the statement enters a debate that remains highly contentious. Many Nigerians continue to see zoning as a practical response to the country’s complex ethnic and regional makeup.
For them, the principle is less about competence versus incompetence and more about ensuring that no part of the country feels permanently excluded from national leadership.
The timing of the comments is also important. As political parties begin positioning themselves for 2027, discussions around zoning, power rotation, and regional entitlement are becoming more prominent.
The PRP’s stance suggests it may seek to distinguish itself from larger parties that are often compelled to balance merit-based arguments with the realities of Nigeria’s power-sharing expectations.
Ultimately, Baba-Ahmed’s comments reflect a broader tension within Nigerian politics: the desire for the most capable leadership on one hand and the need to maintain political inclusion and national balance on the other. That conversation is likely to become even more pronounced as the race toward 2027 gathers momentum.
