Please Kindly Pay Attention: If you’re reading on PHOENIX, please click the “Read Original” button at the top right to view the full article.
According to a report by Punch on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has urged Nigerians to move beyond regional and ethnic considerations in the selection of political leaders, insisting that competence, integrity, and vision should be the primary criteria for choosing those who govern the country.
He made the appeal amid growing political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections, where debates over zoning, rotation, and regional representation continue to shape national discourse.
Baba-Ahmed made the call while featuring in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series on Tuesday in Abuja, where he spoke extensively on the state of leadership in Nigeria and the direction of the country’s democratic process.
During the interview, he addressed concerns about how electoral choices are often influenced by sentiments tied to ethnicity, religion, and regional identity rather than leadership capacity and policy direction.
The PRP national chairman’s comments came against the backdrop of the emergence of former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
His position was presented in the context of the party’s broader approach to selecting candidates, which he suggested should be guided by merit and national interest rather than geographical considerations or political entitlement based on zoning arrangements.
He rejected the politics of zoning and regional entitlement, arguing that Nigeria’s persistent economic, political, and security challenges require leaders with proven competence rather than those chosen solely on the basis of their place of origin.
According to him, the emphasis on regional balance has not significantly addressed the country’s underlying problems, and therefore a shift in political mindset is necessary to achieve meaningful progress in governance and national development.
Baba-Ahmed further maintained that Nigerians must learn from past electoral experiences and reconsider the factors that influence their voting decisions.
He stressed that repeated reliance on ethnic or religious sentiments in leadership selection has not produced the desired results for national unity or development.
He called for a more critical evaluation of candidates based on their capacity to deliver effective governance and sustainable solutions to the country’s challenges.
He emphasized that the country had reached a stage where citizens should prioritize capability over origin in determining who leads the nation, noting that leadership selection should focus on problem-solving abilities rather than regional affiliation.
His remarks were aimed at encouraging a shift in political culture, especially as discussions intensify around potential candidates and party strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said, “We have reached a point where the country should ask who can solve our problems, not where the person comes from.”
