Why the APC zoning formula could be a game-changer for the party in the upcoming elections

Things did not appear to be going well in the camp of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, for quite some time.

Aside from squabbles among the party’s state chapters, the APC was also experiencing infighting among stakeholders at the national level. The Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker an Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) found it difficult to organize the party’s long-awaited national convention.

To add insult to injury, the APC was having difficulties defining its zoning methodology as well.

Many observers and analysts feel that the APC’s arch-rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would be in pole position to win the general elections in 2023 as a result of these numerous problems. This was due to the fact that, while the ruling party was dealing with internal issues, the opposition party had already held its national convention and was planning its primaries.

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However, it appears like the pendulum is about to swing again in the direction of the All Progressives Congress.

The ruling party has struck a unanimous agreement on its zoning formula ahead of its national convention, according to a report by The DAILY TRUST. The APC has resolved that all offices held by northerners in the last eight years shall be transferred to the south, and vice versa.

The decision was taken at Aso Rock on Tuesday in Abuja after a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the 19 state governors elected on the party’s platform.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state, announced the agreement to journalists following the meeting.

“For each of the six geopolitical zones, we have decided on a zoning methodology. In essence, the northern zone will occupy the same positions that the southern zone has for the past eight years. And the other way around. It’s a straightforward, equitable, and just method “he stated

As a result, the party has agreed that the presidential position would be zoned to the south, while the chairmanship seat will be zoned to the north.

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This zoning system, in my opinion, has put the APC in a strong position to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 presidential election. My assumption is based on a simple premise.

The PDP’s refusal to surrender the presidential ticket to the South may result in the party lacking the required regional support.

The PDP is now debating which geopolitical zone to give its presidential ticket to ahead of the 2019 elections, as is widely known.

The problem is thought to be so significant that it has caused a schism among the party’s stakeholders.

For openers, the PDP’s Northern political party claims that the area still has four years in power, despite ruling for only one term under Umaru Yar’Adua.

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They further argue that because Muhammadu Buhari was not elected on the PDP’s platform, his 8-year presidency cannot be used as leverage by the party’s Southern political bloc to demand that power be allotted to them.

Party stakeholders in the South, for their part, have maintained their stance on a power change or nothing. Governors Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Seyi Makinde (Seyi Makinde) are leading the charge (Oyo).

In response to the impasse, the party’s leadership has decided to make the presidential nomination available to all of the party’s candidates. Many parties have objected to this approach.

At a time when calls for a power shift from the north to the south are growing louder by the day, it’s reasonable to conclude that electing a Northern presidential candidate will hinder the PDP’s chances of regaining power in the general elections.

The APC, on the other hand, has just increased its chances of keeping power beyond 2023 by zoning power to the south.