If zoning the Presidency is not made a central principle of any opposition coalition, then its claim of unifying Nigerians is nothing more than political deception.
In today’s Nigeria, true unity can only be achieved through a fair rotational Presidency — first between the North and South, and then among the geopolitical zones within those regions. This arrangement is what gives every section of the country a genuine sense of belonging, inclusion, and political security.
The ruling party understood this reality and used zoning to return the Presidency to the South in 2023. By political tradition, a sitting Nigerian President is widely expected to complete two terms, meaning the ruling party is naturally positioned to protect that arrangement and secure another term for its incumbent.
It is also a political fact that defeating a sitting President seeking reelection is significantly harder than winning an open contest.
The voting pattern in the 2023 election clearly reflected Nigeria’s broad acceptance of Southern presidency. The combined votes of Peter Obi and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, both Southern candidates, totaled roughly 15 million votes. In contrast, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Atiku Abubakar, both Northern candidates, secured about 9 million votes combined.
This was a powerful indication that Nigerians, regardless of ethnic or regional identity, largely supported the continuation of power in the South.
Peter Obi’s proposal to serve only one term was therefore seen by many as a strategic and equitable solution — completing the South’s expected eight-year cycle while also allowing the Southeast a chance at inclusion within that framework.
However, any opposition figure who claims to stand for unity while ignoring this delicate political balance undermines their own credibility.
By rejecting zoning as a foundational principle, and reverting to the same old power-centered calculations that prioritize certain Northern interests over national equity, such a coalition risks repeating the very mistakes that led to defeat in 2023.
The assumption that Obi supporters would abandon fairness simply because they oppose Tinubu is a grave political miscalculation.
Yes, many may disagree with Tinubu’s leadership, but for millions of Nigerians, equity, justice, and fair power rotation matter more than temporary political alliances designed solely to seize power.
Opposition unity without zoning is not true unity — it is merely another struggle for power disguised as national interest.
Published by Chuks Nwachuku
