Southwest PDP to Propose Presidential “Micro-Zoning” at NEC Meeting
In a move poised to spark healthy debate in Nigeria’s political landscape, the Southwest chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has announced plans to propose a presidential micro-zoning arrangement at the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. While official details remain sparse, insiders suggest the proposal is aimed at refining the zoning process to ensure greater regional representation and fairness in leadership positioning.
Micro-zoning, a nuanced form of power rotation within party circles, seeks to subdivide larger regional zones; such as the South, into smaller sub-zones like the Southwest, Southeast, or South-South. This allows specific regions, such as the Southwest PDP, to present their candidates under equitable regional rotation principles. This approach, supporters argue, remedies overgeneralized zoning that can marginalize productive subregions and fuels inclusivity through granular representation.
Advocates believe that by pushing for micro-zoning of the presidency at the NEC, the Southwest PDP is asserting its relevance and striving for direct participation in leadership arms of power. However, reactions to this push have been mixed. Historically, the PDP’s zoning norms emphasize broader regional rotation rather than subdividing zones, in order to uphold unity and simplicity in the process The Guardian NigeriaThe Nation Newspaper.
Critics warn that micro-zoning risks undermining unity within the broader party and may sow discord if perceived as privileging one zone over others. Former national officials have previously cautioned that excessive subdivision, such as allocating multiple national positions within one small sub-region, could spark imbalance and resentment among neighboring sub-zones IndependentDaily Trust.
For instance, Bode George, a veteran PDP stalwart, has condemned micro-zoning within the Southwest, questioning how it would serve equity if one sub-division holds an undue number of critical positions, sidelining areas like Oyo and Osun that are part of the same zone Independent. Similarly, a respected party voice warned that without carefully calibrated boundaries, micro-zoning could degrade into micro-division, potentially rekindling inter-regional tensions Daily Trust.
On the other hand, proponents maintain that larger zones must consider intra-zone diversity. By running a presidential micro-zoning proposal at NEC, the Southwest PDP is asserting that smaller regions deserve distinct opportunities, especially in cases where more extensive zones comprise diverse political cultures and demographic weights.
Another layer to this debate lies in the broader principle of zoning. Nigeria’s PDP constitution enshrines rotation and zoning as fundamental to equity, justice, and fair distribution of party offices The Nation Newspaper. Yet how rigidly that principle is applied remains fluid, leading to strategic negotiations within NEC and NWC frameworks around advocacy, accommodation, and consensus building Blueprint Newspapers LimitedThe Guardian Nigeria.
As the NEC prepares to convene, the Southwest PDP’s proposal will test the elasticity of zoning norms. Party delegates and NEC members will be tasked with balancing respect for tradition; including the rotational zoning thoroughfare, with innovative, inclusive approaches that reflect Nigeria’s evolving political dynamics.
Ultimately, the success or failure of the micro-zoning proposal will hinge on whether it can be framed not as a sectional advantage, but as a step towards finer-grained fairness. If embraced, it may reset expectations for power sharing within the PDP; if rejected, it could reignite debates over zoning and unity, further highlighting the challenges of accommodating regional aspirations in Nigeria’s federation.
