A political pressure group, Northern Advocates for Good Governance (NAFGG), has called on political parties to prioritise experience, competence and capacity in choosing or zoning their 2023 presidential tickets.

At a media briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the group, Mr Mahmoud Katun, said that the 2023 presidency should be opened to all the zones.

He, however, noted that it was more expedient for political parties to prioritise experience, competence, and capacity in choosing or zoning their presidential tickets.

“Nobody has the right to exclude any segment of this country from aspiring to the highest office in the land, especially segments of the North that have never had the opportunity of occupying the prime position.

“We state without equivocation that the presidency of Nigeria is open to all zones and most importantly, zones that have not produced the president of the country,” he said.

Katun said that those propagating the southern agenda were doing so for self-interest, disguised as a rotational presidency.

According to him, where the political parties wish to zone their presidential tickets, the North-East and North- Central should be considered because these two zones have not produced presidents in Nigeria.

“Where parties wish to zone, giving priority to zones in the North that haven’t had the opportunity should be done to guarantee equity, fairness, and justice.

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“We are of the view that if the principle of zoning is to be observed, both the North-East and the North-Central should be considered as they represent two out of three zones that have not produced the president,” he added.

The group also called on political actors in the country, across party divides, to look deeply and evolve measures to address the issue of zoning to produce competent candidates.

He said that the group would present a communiqué to all political parties stating its concerns on the issue of zoning.

NAFGG is an umbrella pressure group of the 19 states in the North. (NAN)