Former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua created a prolonged zoning confusion within Nigeria’s political system that later influenced the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as president in 2015. Kwankwaso also stated that members of the Congress for Progressive Change and other political allies received no personal rewards after Buhari’s electoral victory.
Kwankwaso made the remarks during an interview reflecting on political developments surrounding the 2015 presidential election and the power rotation debate within Nigeria’s major political parties. The former governor was among influential northern politicians who supported Buhari’s presidential bid under the All Progressives Congress coalition that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
The issue of rotational presidency has remained central to Nigerian politics, particularly since Yar’Adua’s death in 2010 led then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South region to complete the presidential term before contesting the 2011 election. Political observers say the development triggered a lasting zoning confusion within sections of the political establishment over power-sharing arrangements between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
According to Kwankwaso, Buhari’s 2015 victory was largely driven by widespread northern political mobilisation and public dissatisfaction with the PDP administration at the time. He stated that despite the sacrifices made by many political actors who worked for Buhari’s emergence, they did not receive political appointments or material rewards afterward.
Kwankwaso said, “We got nothing after Buhari’s victory in 2015.” He added that his political movement supported Buhari based on collective political objectives rather than expectations of personal gain.
The former governor argued that the circumstances surrounding Yar’Adua’s death significantly altered Nigeria’s zoning arrangement and generated enduring political tensions. According to him, the resulting confusion in zoning shaped political alignments across party structures and influenced electoral calculations leading into the 2015 election.
Kwankwaso further stated that discussions around fairness, regional inclusion, and power rotation remain unresolved within the country’s political landscape. Analysts say the remarks reflect continuing debates over zoning principles and their influence on coalition-building ahead of future elections. The comments have also renewed conversations about whether the lingering zoning confusion continues to affect party dynamics and candidate selection processes within Nigeria’s major political parties.
Political analysts say Kwankwaso’s comments could reignite national conversations about rotational presidency, regional balance, and internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 elections. The remarks also highlight ongoing tensions surrounding historical interpretations of Nigeria’s power-sharing arrangements since Yar’Adua’s death.
Observers note that debates linked to zoning confusion may continue shaping political alliances and campaign strategies as parties position themselves for future electoral contests.
