Zoning: Beyond Gov. Sule, Nasarawa Citizens Stand for Equity

As the 2027 governorship race in Nasarawa State heats up, a groundswell of grassroots support for the state’s informal zoning arrangement is emerging. This demonstrates that the commitment to equitable power rotation extends far beyond Governor Abdullahi Sule’s personal advocacy.
Governor Sule has repeatedly championed zoning as a mechanism for ensuring fairness, inclusion, and political stability in a diverse state.
However, political observers note that the governor’s position resonates with a broader citizenry determined to preserve Nasarawa’s delicate political balance. Stakeholders from across the state argue that the zoning tradition has been instrumental in managing diversity and preventing the concentration of power in any single bloc.
At the heart of the current agitation is the Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency, which comprises Nasarawa and Toto Local Government Areas. Political leaders from the constituency contend that they have been the only federal constituency in the state never to produce a governor, despite consistently supporting candidates from other zones since the return to democracy in 1999.
“It is the turn of Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency to produce the next governor,” said Alhaji Mohammed Usman, a political leader from Nasarawa LGA. “We have supported every governor from other constituencies, yet we have never been given the chance. This is about fairness”.
The constituency’s demands are bolstered by the prevailing rotation logic: with Nasarawa West Senatorial District next in line according to the established sequence, and given that Nasarawa/Toto is a key component of that zone, many argue the governorship should naturally gravitate to this long-marginalized area.
Citizens across party lines appear united in their resolve that no financial inducement or political blackmail should derail the zoning tradition. Community leaders, youth activists, and civil society advocates have warned that truncating the rotation arrangement for the benefit of “one person or two” would violate the spirit of equity that has kept Nasarawa politically stable.
“Democracy thrives on fairness,” noted Dr. Aminu Adamu, a political analyst. “If one region feels sidelined for too long, it breeds resentment and weakens the unity of the state”.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be listening. Governor Sule has indicated the party has agreed to zone the 2027 governorship to Nasarawa West, while the state party chairman, Dr. Aliyu Bello, has described zoning as “sacrosanct” to the party’s political development.
As aspirants from various zones position themselves for the contest, the message from the grassroots is clear: Nasarawa’s citizens stand ready to defend their long-standing tradition of equitable power sharing regardless of individual ambitions or external pressures.