By Jamiu Yusuf
ABUJA: Stakeholders from the North Central have strongly opposed the decision of both the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and the All Progressives Congress APC to zone the 2027 presidency to the South, warning that the region will no longer tolerate being left out of Nigeria’s power-sharing structure.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Chairperson of the North Central Renaissance Movement, Professor K’tso Nghargbu, described the PDP’s zoning arrangement as a calculated attempt to exclude the region from the country’s leadership circle, despite its consistent sacrifices for national stability.
He stressed that the North Central has never produced a civilian president or vice president since independence, despite being one of the most strategic blocs in Nigeria.
According to him, the zone has remained patient for decades, choosing peaceful engagement and “intellectual activism” over violent agitation, yet its quest for inclusiveness continues to be ignored.
“Any political party that is not prepared to cede the presidency to the North—and in particular the North Central—should not expect the votes of our people in 2027,” Nghargbu declared.
He contrasted the region’s peaceful approach with other zones that, according to him, often resort to vandalism of vital national assets or armed rebellion to press home their demands. “We have never done that. Ours has always been intellectual activism,” he added.
Noting the zone’s importance, Nghargbu described the North Central as a “mini-Nigeria,” hosting all major ethnic groups and serving as a unifying bridge at a time of deepening mistrust between northern and southern elites. “When the country is bleeding, the most logical option is to look for a stabilizer. The North Central is that stabilizer,” he said.
He also listed the zone’s contributions to the nation—from its agricultural dominance as Nigeria’s food basket, to its mineral wealth and a pool of capable human resources—arguing that these qualities position it to provide visionary leadership.
On PDP’s claim that power would rotate back to the North after a single four-year term in the South, Nghargbu dismissed the promise as unrealistic. “The truth is simple: once a president gets into office, he will seek re-election. Nigerians know this. We’ve seen it before and it will happen again,” he said.
The stakeholders further cautioned against what they called “recycled leadership,” insisting that Nigerians, particularly the youth, are eager for fresh leaders and innovative governance. “Our agitation is not about North versus South. It is about fairness, justice and effective leadership. The North Central remains the only zone yet to be tested, and we insist that the time is now,” Nghargbu asserted.
He warned that any political party that sidelines the North Central should not expect electoral support from the region in the 2027 polls.
