As political activity gathers momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, political analyst and elder statesman Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has called on Nigerians to abandon regional and identity-based considerations in choosing national leaders, urging a stronger focus on competence and governance capacity.

Baba-Ahmed said the country’s long-standing reliance on informal power-sharing arrangements such as zoning has weakened democratic choices and limited the emergence of capable leadership.

The former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum argued that the practice of rotating political offices between the North and South often places regional balancing above merit and performance.

He warned that this approach has contributed to poor governance outcomes and called for a shift toward evaluating candidates based on track records, policy ideas, and leadership ability rather than geographical origin.

According to him, Nigeria’s leadership challenges require a more practical selection process focused on problem-solving capacity.

Baba-Ahmed noted that rising economic pressures and persistent security challenges have made voters across the country more politically conscious, reducing the influence of traditional ethnic and regional voting patterns.

He said this shift could reshape political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, as citizens increasingly demand concrete policy proposals instead of identity-based campaigns.

He also urged political parties and emerging coalitions to strengthen their ideological foundations and move away from personality-driven politics.

Baba-Ahmed said Nigeria needs parties that can present clear economic and security strategies capable of addressing national challenges, rather than relying on regional entitlement or elite bargaining.

With political realignments already beginning, analysts say debates over zoning, competence, and national unity are likely to dominate the buildup to the 2027 elections.

Baba-Ahmed’s remarks add to growing calls from civil society and political observers for reforms that prioritize governance quality over traditional power-sharing arrangements.