The above topic was thriving in the Nigerian media and particularly the ARISE TELEVISION for a greater part of early last week. It all started with the former VP, Atiku Abubakar, chieftain of the ADC declaring the zoning of the NDC Presidential slot of the party to Southern Nigeria. This statement was quickly followed by veteran Journalist, Dele Momodu who added without mincing words that NDC Zoning was unconstitutional and therefore wrong. ARISE News carried this very conspicuously on the morning of 13th May, 2026. Some other news media carried this news thereafter thereby making same idea noticeable to a great number of Nigerians home and in diaspora.
I consider this news item as wrong and misleading for reasons I shall make clearer in this write up. First let me bring out verbatim the provisions of sections 14(3) and (4) of the Nigerian Constitution (1999) as amended as well as that of section 15 (4).
The first cited provisions says – the composition of the government or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to or promote national unity and also to command national loyalty thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional group in that government or in any of its agencies.
The composition of the government or a state or local government council, and the conduct of its affairs state, or a local government council, and the affairs of the government or conduct or such agencies shall be carried out such government or pouncil, and the conduct of the affairs of the government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such a manner as to recognize the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the federation.
Similarly, section 15 (4) provides “the state shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various people of the federation to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.
Therefore any sensible, well meaning and sincere reading of these two sections of our Constitution drawn from chapter 2 of the Constitution which constitutes the fundamental objective and directive principle of state policy would readily see the inseparable link between the two and agree that the underlying principle is inclusiveness for the purpose of unity and national cohesion. Therefore the fact that these two sections did not each specifically mention zoning rule out zoning from our Constitution. One is expressly stated while the other is mention by implication. Both being to the same effect and purpose. There should be no argument that the quoted provision of our Constitution complement each other with the overall aim of seeking unity through meaningful participation by all sections of the state.
It’s therefore intriguing that frontline Nigerians like Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria and frontline politician and media guru of Dele Momodu’s caliber, would push the idea that zoning is unconstitutional in Nigeria. In spite of the obvious provisions of section 14 (3) and (4) of the Constitution as well as section 15 (4) of the Constitution. It must be added that this issue of zoning is not coming up for the first time since our return to civil democracy. In fact it was the PDP of Atiku Abubakar and his prominent ally, Dele Momodu were members and major movers of zoning at that time. Thus this turn around on the issue of zoning when it goes against their political interest will bother on integrity as same suggests clearly that the duo project ideas that are geared only towards their group or personal interest.
In conclusion, the view peddled by these prominent Nigerians that zoning is unconstitutional is clearly wrong and misleading and Nigerians must be advised to address this issue objectively and maturely.
Those who want to complain about constitutionality should condemn what is against the Constitution not what is not expressly written in the Constitution. Nobody would be able to produce a national Constitution if every conceivable idea or issue were to be covered. The Constitution is ground norm. The relevant provisions to this issue under discussion are section 14(3) and (4) and section 15 (4).
Don Idada Ikponmwen, former Provost Marshall
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