Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has weighed in on Nigeria’s zoning debate, stating that the Southern region has spent more years in power than the North under democratic rule.
Speaking during a media interview, Atiku argued that since 1999, the South has governed for about 18 years, while the North has held power for roughly 10 years, questioning claims that the North is politically disadvantaged.
He made the remarks while discussing the fairness of power rotation (zoning) in Nigeria’s political system, emphasizing the need to consider historical context when debating which region should produce the next president.
Atiku also noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains one of the few parties with zoning formally embedded in its structure, suggesting that other parties have largely adopted the idea informally.
Reflecting on past constitutional debates, he admitted that he once opposed the idea of rotational presidency, but now believes it could have helped ensure fairer power distribution across regions.
The statement adds to ongoing national conversations around zoning, equity, and power-sharing, especially as political alignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.