Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has slammed Nigeria’s rotational presidency system, calling it “senseless” and counterproductive.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Sowore argued that leadership should be based on competence, not regional origin.
“If we have a president who can effectively run this country, it shouldn’t matter where they come from,” he said. “What Nigerians truly want is capable leadership, not regional politics.”
He criticized the zoning arrangement for fostering division and failing to reflect the nation’s full diversity.
“When it’s zoned to the North, many northerners see it as their entitlement. When it swings to the South, people act like the South only includes the Yoruba or Igbo. It makes no sense,” he stated.
Sowore stressed that all presidential hopefuls should compete on equal footing, with emphasis placed on their vision, qualifications, and integrity rather than their geographic background.
“Choosing the wrong person just because it’s ‘their region’s turn’ won’t move Nigeria forward,” he said. “Everyone should be allowed to contest, share their agenda, and be judged based on merit.”
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