By Rayyanu Bala

Last week, Governor Abdullahi Sule, in an interview with TVC, publicly affirmed his commitment to zoning principles. He stated that he is a product of zoning and cannot, at the federal level, support zoning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term while turning his back on zoning in Nasarawa State. Indeed, Governor Sule’s stance reflects a hallmark of true leadership.

However, in Nasarawa State today, there are still some who are mischievously pushing for the abandonment of zoning principles.

For many discerning observers, it is becoming increasingly clear that those arguing against zoning are not genuinely advocating for inclusiveness or fairness. Rather, they are using the anti-zoning stance as a political smokescreen just a convenient cover to sow confusion within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and to undermine Governor Abdullahi A. Sule’s influence in determining his rightful successor.

Since the return of democracy in 1999 in Nasarawa State, zoning has been one of the key political arrangements ensuring balance, peace, and a sense of belonging among the three senatorial districts — Nasarawa North, Nasarawa West, and Nasarawa South. It has been a tacit understanding that power rotates among these zones to maintain fairness and avoid domination by any single zone.

This rotational understanding has not only promoted unity but has also strengthened party stability. The zoning arrangement gave every part of the state a stake in governance and a reason to support the ruling party. To jettison this principle abruptly, therefore, would be politically reckless.

Those suddenly opposed to zoning in Nasarawa are not motivated by the interest of the state or by any noble vision for inclusive politics. They are fully aware that abandoning zoning will not work in a politically conscious state like Nasarawa. The masses understand equity, and they expect fairness. What these anti-zoning advocates truly seek is confusion. They want a divided APC that will be too internally fractured to stand united in 2027 election.

By rejecting zoning, these individuals hope to weaken Governor Abdullahi Sule’s moral authority and political leverage as he seeks to guide the party toward a peaceful transition. Their ultimate aim is to derail the governor’s succession plan and create a leadership vacuum that could be exploited by opposition forces.

Governor Sule, by every standard, has earned the right to have a say in who succeeds him. His tenure has been characterized by developmental strides, industrial growth, and a commitment to peaceful coexistence. As leader of the APC in Nasarawa State, he bears the responsibility of ensuring the continuity of good governance after his exit.

Attempting to strip Governor Sule of this role under the guise of rejecting zoning is both disingenuous and self-serving. Every outgoing leader has a duty to safeguard the stability of his party. Governor Sule’s involvement in the succession process can not therefore be seen as an act of imposition; it is an act of stewardship and responsibility.

History shows that political parties lose power when internal cohesion collapses. The APC in Nasarawa cannot afford to repeat the mistakes that have cost ruling parties elsewhere. If the zoning principle is ignored and the governor’s authority undermined, the party risks going into the next election disunited and vulnerable to opposition take-over.

The path to victory in 2027 is simple: respect the zoning arrangement, allow Governor Sule to guide the transition process, and maintain internal discipline. Any deviation from this tested formula will hand the opposition an undeserved advantage.

In truth, those opposing zoning in Nasarawa State are not fighting for justice or democracy; they are playing politics of deception. They know zoning is the glue that holds the state together, yet they wish to destroy it for selfish gain. The APC must see through this charade and rally around Governor Abdullahi Sule to ensure that his legacy of peace, progress, and fairness continues through a properly zoned and widely accepted succession plan.

As we are aware, zoning brought stability to the state therefore abandoning it now will only bring chaos. And chaos, as history teaches us, never wins elections.