PRP Zoning Statement sees party reject zoning politics, insisting competence will determine its presidential candidate selection
The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, on Thursday issued a PRP Zoning Statement, declaring that it will field a presidential candidate based strictly on competence and capacity rather than regional, religious or ethnic considerations.
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The party’s National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, made the position known during an interview on Arise Television, where he strongly criticised the principle of zoning in Nigeria’s political system.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed stated that the PRP would present a presidential candidate from any part of the country, stressing that leadership quality should outweigh considerations of origin or identity.
He argued that insisting on zoning had contributed to long-standing divisions within Nigeria’s political landscape, describing the practice as harmful to national unity and governance outcomes.
Statement of PRP Zoning reflects a broader internal position within the party, which has increasingly emphasised merit-based selection in its political strategy ahead of future elections.
Speaking during the broadcast, Baba-Ahmed said that Nigeria’s focus should shift towards competence, capacity and effective leadership rather than regional entitlement to political office.
He further suggested that past administrations had demonstrated the risks of prioritising zoning over ability, referencing former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure as an example of leadership shortcomings that, in his view, were not tied to regional origin.
His remarks have added fresh momentum to ongoing national debates about zoning, a long-standing political arrangement used by major parties to balance power between regions.
While supporters of zoning argue that it promotes inclusivity and stability, critics such as Baba-Ahmed maintain that it limits the pool of capable leaders and weakens governance outcomes.
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The PRP has positioned itself as a party seeking to redefine political selection criteria, with its latest statement expected to fuel further discussion within Nigeria’s political circles.
