Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against zoning its 2027 governorship ticket in Kwara to the northern senatorial district without clear electoral advantage.

Suleiman issued the warning while advising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to tread carefully in ongoing discussions surrounding zoning within the party.

His comments come amid increasing agitation from stakeholders advocating the rotation of power to Kwara North, citing the need for inclusivity and political balance ahead of the next election cycle.

In remarks shared on his social media platforms, the NILDS boss acknowledged that zoning and power rotation are important mechanisms for managing diversity in a plural society like Nigeria. However, he stressed that such decisions must be guided by electoral realities.

“I am not against zoning or power rotation, and I understand the clamour by those who say it is their turn. But the critical question is how zoning translates into electoral victory,” he stated.

According to Suleiman, political parties typically rely on key indicators such as voter population, strength of political structures, and historical voting patterns when deciding where to zone tickets. He warned that ignoring these factors could undermine a party’s chances at the polls.

“No political party takes the risk of zoning to where it does not believe it has a competitive advantage,” he added.

The NILDS DG also cited the performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, noting that strategic miscalculations contributed to its loss in Kwara State.

He observed that the opposition party appears to be recalibrating ahead of 2027, with indications it may consider returning its governorship ticket to Kwara Central to strengthen its electoral
prospects.

Suleiman warned that decisions driven by sentiment or political obligation, rather than strategic considerations, could expose the APC to significant risks in the forthcoming election.

He urged party leaders at both national and state levels to critically assess the political terrain before arriving at a final decision.

“It will be risky to take a position that does not place the party in a comfortable position to win,” he said.

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