Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has vowed that his government will gazette the zoning system for all elective positions in the state.
The governor stated this on Wednesday night during a strategic meeting with critical stakeholders and aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, held at the Hauwa Wali Multipurpose Hall, Government House, Minna.
He said the gazetted zoning system would allow elective positions to rotate fairly across all 25 local government areas of the state and ensure political stability.
He added that a public hearing would be held on the matter, stressing that no local government would be allowed to hold power for more than two terms.
“We are going to gazette zoning in Niger State, even if that’s the only thing we are going to do before 2027.
“This is to allow power to rotate from one local government to another and from one constituency to another for peace in the state,” he said.
Bago said the Nigerian Constitution does not prevent anyone from contesting elections regardless of senatorial district, but noted that there is an understanding and zoning arrangement that has worked well for the state.
He assured all APC contestants of a free, fair, and transparent direct primary election where consensus could not be reached.
Bago applauded aspirants who stepped down and embraced consensus, saying the government would work closely with them and reward their sacrifices.
He said discussions were still ongoing with aspirants to build consensus, reduce crisis and acrimony, and urged them not to bring thugs to disrupt the process or risk disqualification.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the governor for his exemplary leadership, which he said led many aspirants to step down from their ambitions.
He expressed confidence that the party primaries would be rancour-free and serve as a model for other sub-national governments.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Niger State Command, Adamu Elleman, cautioned aspirants and party members on the need to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the process.
He assured them of adequate security across all 274 wards of the state, adding that a peace accord would be signed.
The APC North-Central Zonal Chairman, Mu’azu Rijau, and the state chairman of the party, Aminu Bobi, among other stakeholders, stressed the need for unity and peaceful primary elections.
Some of the aspirants who stepped down from their ambitions said their decisions were borne out of respect for Gov. Bago and his inclusive leadership style in the state.
