Sowore Rejects Zoning, Demands Competence-based Leadership In Nigeria

Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the practice of zoning political offices in Nigeria along regional, ethnic and religious lines, insisting that leadership positions should instead be based on competence, integrity and character.

Sowore made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Morning Brief, where he rejected ongoing political conversations around zoning ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I have never been part of any zoning conversation,” he said. “Nigerians should stop zoning the presidency or any political office to any region. They should zone it to competence.”

The former presidential candidate argued that the country’s long-standing zoning arrangement had contributed to the emergence of unqualified leaders.

“They should zone it to people with character,” Sowore added. “It’s part of this zoning that produces some of the worst characters around this country. You zone to religious groups, geographical groups and ethnic groups. Look at where you are.”

According to him, his political movement African Action Congress (AAC) does not recognise zoning based on ethnicity or geography but rather prioritises merit and leadership capacity.

“We are not doing zoning in our party. Our party doesn’t have a zoning policy,” he said.

“The only zones we recognise are zones of competence, character, integrity, intelligence and vision. We zone to visionaries.”

Sowore also dismissed claims that politicians who attain power are genuinely interested in serving for only a single term, suggesting that many leaders enter office with long-term ambitions hidden from the public.

“Don’t let anybody lie to you. There’s nobody who gets power in Nigeria who wants to leave in four years. They’re just fooling those who might want to be fooled,” he stated.