Former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Elder Anthony Sani, has faulted former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu’s call for the 2027 governorship ticket to be zoned to Nasarawa West, warning that such a position could inflame political tensions unnecessarily.
In a statement issued on Friday, Sani described Adamu’s suggestion as lacking in political foresight and potentially detrimental to harmony within the state. He argued that zoning should not be exclusive to any single zone and that merit should remain central to leadership selection.
“When I heard Governor Abdullahi Adamu advocating for zoning to commence from Nasarawa West, popularly known as the Keffi zone, I saw no logic in that argument. It only risks overheating the political atmosphere,” Sani said.
He maintained that allowing aspirants from all three senatorial zones to contest does not invalidate the zoning arrangement, as the zone that produces the governor in 2027 would naturally mark the beginning of a new zoning cycle.
“Whichever zone produces the governor in 2027, the remaining two can then determine the order of succession in subsequent elections, thereby preserving fairness without sacrificing merit,” he explained.
The ACF chieftain cited historical precedent, pointing to the 1999 governorship election in which aspirants
from all zones contested. “It was only after Nasarawa West produced Governor Adamu that it became the starting point for the first zoning cycle. The same logic should apply in 2027.”
Sani further stressed that no single zone should monopolise the right to start zoning cycles, noting that inclusivity is crucial to sustaining the state’s political equilibrium.
“This approach maintains the spirit of zoning while avoiding unnecessary political friction,” he said.
