Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, has criticised the principle of rotational presidency in Nigeria, arguing that competence should be prioritised over regional considerations in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme on Tuesday, Sowore said the focus should be on the capacity and agenda of presidential aspirants rather than their geopolitical origin.

“If I have a good president in Nigeria, who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from,” he said.

Sowore, a human rights advocate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, described zoning as a process that can undermine merit by excluding competent individuals based on ethnicity or region.

“That is what the majority of the Nigerian people are aspiring for. That is the idea of this federation—that all the federating units should be able to have an opportunity,” he added.

He questioned the logic of rotational arrangements that limit choices to specific regions, pointing out the internal diversity of regions such as the South.

“When you zone it to the north, the majority of the northerners would want to take a shot at it. When you zone it back to the south, the south of Nigeria is not Yoruba or Igbo alone. It is just senseless,” he said.

Sowore also expressed concern that zoning can elevate unqualified candidates. “Zoning the presidency to the worst character in the country is not going to make you get anywhere,” he said.

He advocated for a political culture in which all aspirants are free to contest and are assessed based on their qualifications, plans, and track records.

“Give everybody a chance. That is why they said, ‘Come and contest for president, governor, local government chairman, and present your agenda, speak to us, and we will look at your character, exposure, and vote for you’,” he said.

Sowore has consistently positioned himself as a proponent of systemic reform and has challenged both ruling and opposition parties on issues ranging from governance to public accountability.