Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said the North does not have an exclusive right to produce Nigeria’s president, stressing that fairness, justice and mutual respect should guide the country’s leadership rotation.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has declared that the presidency should not be viewed as the permanent entitlement of any region, insisting that Nigeria’s unity depends on equity and respect among its diverse ethnic and regional groups.
Speaking during an interview on News Central’s 60 Minutes, Kwankwaso said the North believes in fairness and does not subscribe to the notion that it must always occupy the nation’s highest political office.
‘Leadership Must Be Based on Fairness’
Kwankwaso argued that Nigeria’s stability is strengthened when all regions have a sense of belonging and equal opportunity to produce national leaders.
He maintained that leadership should be determined through democratic choice rather than by claims of regional entitlement, adding that justice and inclusiveness are essential to national cohesion.
Comments Amid 2027 Political Debate
His remarks come amid growing discussions over power rotation and zoning ahead of the 2027 general election, with political parties and stakeholders debating whether the presidency should remain in the South after President Bola Tinubu’s first term or rotate to another region.
Kwankwaso’s comments add another perspective to the ongoing national conversation over equity, federal character and power sharing.
Calls for National Unity
The former Kano State governor urged Nigerians to avoid divisive politics and instead focus on competence, fairness and national development.
He said sustainable democracy requires mutual respect among the country’s regions and warned against narratives capable of deepening political divisions.