2027: Nigeria Must Move Beyond Zoning, North-South Politics — Baba-Ahmed

The National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to move beyond zoning and North-South political divisions in choosing leaders, urging voters to prioritise competence, integrity and vision over regional considerations.

Baba-Ahmed made the appeal during the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series on Tuesday in Abuja, where he spoke on the emergence of former Cross River State Governor, Mr Donald Duke, as the PRP presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

He said the party deliberately rejected zoning and regional entitlement in selecting its flag bearer, arguing that Nigeria’s challenges require capable leadership rather than candidates chosen based on geography.

According to him, political office should not be tied to ethnic or regional identity, stressing that national progress depends on the quality of individuals elected into leadership positions.

“As a northerner, I am completely comfortable supporting Donald Duke because he is the best candidate available to us, not because he comes from the South,” he said.

He added that Nigerians must learn from past elections and stop making political decisions based on sentiment, warning that such practices have contributed to the country’s slow development.

Baba-Ahmed further noted that issues such as poverty, insecurity and unemployment affect all regions equally, and therefore require unified and competence-driven solutions rather than sectional politics.

He disclosed that all aspirants who contested the PRP presidential ticket were from the southern part of the country, explaining that no northern candidate participated in the race.

The PRP chairman maintained that the time has come for Nigeria to focus on problem-solving leadership, insisting that merit and capacity should override regional balancing in determining who leads the country in 2027.