By Rayyanu Bala

As the clock ticks toward the 2027 general elections, political discussions in Nasarawa State are once again dominated by the age-old question of zoning, the informal power-sharing arrangement that has shaped the state’s politics since 1999.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, currently serving out his second term in office, has openly declared that the zoning formula has been instrumental in maintaining political balance and stability across Nasarawa’s three senatorial zones. In an interview with TVC, aired yesterday Friday, Sule emphasized that he remains a strong believer in the principle that power should rotate among the state’s diverse zones.

He said he is a beneficiary of zoning and that it would be hypocritical of him to support zoning at the national level and oppose it in his state.

The governor’s comments come at a time when conversations around his eventual successor are gaining momentum within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in the state. While Sule has yet to publicly declare where his support lies, he stressed that only God ultimately decides who becomes governor, adding that the party would rally behind any aspirant capable of winning elections.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, Nasarawa State has witnessed a relatively balanced rotation of power among its three senatorial districts, the North, South, and West. The arrangement, many observers believe, has helped foster unity in the multi-ethnic state like Nasarawa.

However, this equilibrium is now under strain. Political heavyweights from the southern zone, which has already produced a governor for 12 straight years are reportedly calling for an open contest in 2027. They argue that the state has matured politically and that zoning should give way to merit and popularity.

Conversely, leaders and stakeholders from Nasarawa West are insisting that the next governor should emerge from their zone, maintaining that zoning has been the cornerstone of fairness and inclusion in the state’s political culture.

Governor Sule, an engineer-turned-politician, also drew parallels between Nasarawa’s zoning model and the broader national conversation about political equity. He expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing administration, urging Nigerians to back Tinubu’s second and final term in office.

He remarked that the North has already produced a two-term president and that it is only fair that the South also enjoys two uninterrupted terms.

With less than two years left in his tenure, Governor Sule finds himself navigating delicate political waters. His administration’s final months are likely to be defined not only by governance but also by how he manages the rising tension between advocates of zoning and those pushing for a free-for-all contest.

Political analysts believe that the outcome of this debate could significantly shape the future of Nasarawa politics. For now, the governor remains cautious, choosing his words carefully, a reflection of both his understanding of the political terrain and his desire to leave behind a legacy of peace and fairness.

As Nasarawa inches closer to 2027 elections , one thing is clear: the question of zoning still remains a unifying tool as opposed to a free-for-all contest, which has devastating and destabilizing consequences.