After 26 years of zoning arrangements for the governorship position in Niger State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has abolished the system, saying that it has no legal or constitutional binding.

The party, in a statement in Minna by the Publicity Secretary, Musa D. Sarkinkaji, categorically stated that both the constitution of the party and that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria do not recognise the zoning system in the country’s democracy.

Musa therefore maintained that every qualified individual within the All Progressives Congress or outside the party retains the constitutional right to aspire to the office of governor, irrespective of senatorial district or geographical consideration.

The Publicity Secretary acknowledged that, though the zoning system has over time served as a useful and stabilising political arrangement in the state—promoting inclusiveness, balance and mutual understanding— “it is important to state that zoning is not a binding provision of either the party constitution or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is a political convention rather than a legal obligation. Consequently, all qualified individuals, whether within the All Progressives Congress or outside it, retain the constitutional right to aspire to the office of the governor irrespective of senatorial district or geographical consideration.”

The party made it clear that democracy guarantees freedom of participation and that the legitimacy of any candidacy ultimately rests on popular support expressed through due process.

The statement nevertheless assured that the party remains committed to upholding democratic principles, fostering unity and ensuring a level playing field for all aspirants, while also encouraging responsible conduct and constructive engagement among members.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party in the state, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has described the decision of the party to clarify the zoning system in the state as a welcome development, saying that the need to abolish what he called “undemocratic political arrangement” in the state is long overdue.

The former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state, while commending the State Working Committee of the party for this bold statement, pointed out that the so-called zoning system has affected the state negatively and robbed it of meaningful development.

“For over 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, Niger State has suffered underdevelopment because of the zoning arrangement. The state has continued to pay a huge price for this undemocratic arrangement called zoning”.

The former publicity secretary of the party said that in the last 26 years, the state has sacrificed competence and capacity for mediocrity in the name of zoning arrangements, stressing that whether a political office holder performs or not, he or she is allowed to continue in office because of the zoning system.

“We have seen in the state here where a governor who is not even supposed to finish his first term in office because of his woeful performance is allowed to complete eight years because of this so-called zoning.

“That is why every elected governor in the state sees it as a right to spend eight years in office, whether he performs or not, because this undemocratic system that has stagnated the state covers him.

“As it stands, Niger State is the only state in Nigeria that is still held down by the zoning system. That is why development is far from us. It is the least developed state in the North Central, all because of a retrogressive system called zoning,” he added.

This recent development in the party is not unconnected with the recent outburst by the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Mohammed Sani Musa, who said he would have run against the incumbent Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, in 2027 if not for the zoning arrangement in the state.

Senator Musa was said to have stated this when he flagged off his foreign scholarship programme for his constituents at his campaign office in Minna.

“We are one broom. But who are the people building APC? Am I not one of those building APC? I have a question. We are in one party. Our party does not stop anyone from contesting.

“Today, let me tell you, I swear by Allah, if not that we had zoned the governorship seat, I would have contested for the seat,” he said.

Musa accused some people he had helped to win elections of going about to discredit him, saying that he remains the strongest APC member and politician in the state.

Senator Musa’s reaction came a few weeks after the governor told APC supporters and the Suleja Emirate to change the Senator if he is not serving their interests. (The Sun)