The national chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to shift away from regional considerations when choosing leaders and instead prioritise competence, integrity and vision.
Baba-Ahmed made the appeal during the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to NAN, the PRP chairman spoke in the context of the emergence of former Cross River governor, Mr Donald Duke, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
He explained that the party deliberately rejected zoning and regional entitlement, insisting that Nigeria’s challenges require capable leadership rather than candidates chosen based on their place of origin.
“As a northerner, I am completely comfortable supporting Donald Duke because he is the best candidate available to us, not because he comes from the South,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed stressed that Nigerians must learn from past experiences and stop making political choices based on ethnic, religious, or regional sentiments.
“We have reached a point where the country should ask who can solve our problems, not where the person comes from.
“The problems confronting Nigerians today are not northern or southern issues. Poverty, insecurity and unemployment affect every part of the country,” he said.
He revealed that all three aspirants who contested the PRP presidential ticket were from the southern region, noting that no northern candidate participated in the race.
The PRP chairman added that Duke eventually emerged through what he described as a transparent electoral process, based on the belief that he possessed the qualities needed to lead the country.
Baba-Ahmed also criticised the increasing use of ethnic and regional divisions for political advantage, saying it weakens national unity and distracts from governance.
He maintained that Nigeria’s progress depends on embracing merit-based leadership and building a political culture that rewards competence and performance.
He expressed confidence that Duke’s candidacy would resonate across regional, ethnic and religious lines, adding that the country needs leaders capable of uniting citizens around peace, security and development.