Zoning Debate A Political Distraction, Says Dele Momodu

Veteran journalist and politician, Dele Momodu, has dismissed the growing debate over zoning ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing it as a deliberate political distraction from Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship and governance challenges.

Momodu, who spoke on Arise Television’s Prime Time, said political actors were deliberately amplifying the zoning conversation to shift attention away from pressing national issues that require urgent solutions.

He argued that zoning has been elevated as a political “credential” for winning elections, particularly the presidency, insisting that electoral success is determined by strategy and numbers rather than regional sentiment.

According to him, “politics is arithmetic, not emotion,” stressing that political parties are free to adopt any strategy that improves their chances at the polls, since zoning is not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution.

Momodu also warned that the dominance of zoning discussions in public discourse risks overshadowing critical governance debates, including security, power supply and economic recovery.

He further pointed to emerging opposition alignments and internal political calculations ahead of 2027, noting that fragmentation within opposition ranks could shape the electoral outcome if not managed strategically.

The comments come amid intensified political positioning across major parties and renewed debates over zoning, coalition-building and candidate selection ahead of the next general election.