Revisiting Zoning in Nigerian Politics

Abstract

From 1999 to 2022, ethnic affiliation, religiousity and geo-political zones has been the unofficial pre-election criteria for selecting candidates for the presidential and governorship positions in Nigeria. The selection process created unnecessary tension in the polity. To stem the tide of political volatility, there has been intensification in calls for zoning principal offices between the north and the south, and between the various senatorial zones at the state level. In revisiting the politics surrounding zoning, and the questions about its constitutionality, the paper examines its historical antecedent, as well as Article 72(C), 2009 of People's Democratic Party's Constitution. Adopting Elites theoretical framework, and for methodology, qualitative descriptive data and content analysis was utilized. The paper found that intra-elite rivalries and the 'do or die' politics during the process of selection and election of candidates, has marred the development of democratic ethos in the country. It concluded that due to the above anomalies, democracy has faced some dysfunctionality, giving rise to the quest to zone principal offices. Considering Nigeria's multi-ethnic diversity, the study recommends that before its adoption, the National Assembly should constitutionally spell out the modalities for its operation, as it stands out to be a more peaceful means for achieving equity and inclusiveness in governance.