Arise Television Director of News, Sumner Sambo, has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s expected 2027 presidential bid could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy despite ongoing debates over the country’s zoning arrangement.
Speaking during a television programme, Sambo argued that the Nigerian Constitution permits any qualified citizen to contest for the presidency, regardless of the informal power-sharing agreement between the North and the South.
He described zoning as a political convention rather than a constitutional requirement, adding that excessive reliance on rotational leadership has encouraged some politicians to wait for their turn instead of competing based on their ideas and leadership qualities.
Sambo also referenced recommendations from the 1995 Constitutional Conference chaired by the late Alex Ekwueme, which proposed rotating the presidency among the six geopolitical zones before eventually transitioning to a merit-based system. He noted that the proposal was never fully implemented.
According to Sambo, the debate surrounding Atiku’s anticipated candidacy underscores the need for broader electoral reforms, stronger democratic institutions and continued discussions on constitutional rights, political inclusion and the future of power-sharing ahead of the 2027 general election.
