By Musa Bakare.
Power sharing/rotation has gained recognition as a pragmatic method of regulating conflict and building unity in divided societies. In both theory and practice, it often proves more stabilizing than the rigid and sometimes exclusionary principle of majoritarianism, where the majority takes all and the minority is left with little voice in governance.
Across the world, power sharing/rotation arrangements have helped stabilize fragile societies and open new pathways to democratic coexistence.
At its core, power sharing/rotation represents a form of democratic accommodation that differs from the classical Western model of winner takes all politics. Instead of concentrating power in the hands of a single dominant group, it spreads authority in ways that reflect the diversity of society. In divided communities, such arrangements reduce the fear of exclusion and encourage cooperation rather than confrontation.
Power sharing/rotation is the answer to ethnic mistrust, inequality, and unresolved historical grievances overwhelm political compromise, where socio-economic inequality is deep and where ethnic divisions intersect with economic deprivation. In such circumstances, power-sharing guarantees peace when it is supported by a broader concept of security—one that addresses political inclusion, economic opportunity, and social justice.
This broader understanding of democratic inclusion offers an important lesson for Nigeria and its federating units, including Kogi State. In multi-ethnic states where different communities coexist under one political structure, stability often depends on the perception of fairness in the distribution of power.
Democracy thrives not merely through elections but through the spirit of equity that binds communities together. When sections of a state consistently feel excluded from leadership opportunities, political dissatisfaction grows and unity weakens.
As the countdown to the 2027 governorship election begins in Kogi State, the principle of fairness demands careful reflection. The state is structured around three senatorial districts—East, Central, and West—each representing significant demographic and cultural constituencies.
Since the creation of Kogi State in 1991 and the advent of the Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, the governorship has largely rotated between the Eastern and Central districts. Leaders such as Abubakar Audu and Ibrahim Idris emerged from the East, while the Central district has also held the reins of power for extended periods.
The present governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, comes from the Central district, following the eight-year tenure of Yahaya Bello. This sequence clearly illustrates that the West Senatorial District remains the only zone yet to produce a democratically elected governor in the current political cycle.
In a state built on mutual respect among its three districts, justice requires that power should not remain concentrated in two zones while the third continues to wait indefinitely for its turn. Political equity is not a concession granted out of charity; it is the adhesive that strengthens unity within diverse societies.
The people of Kogi West have consistently demonstrated loyalty to the stability and progress of the state. Their participation in elections, support for successive administrations, and contributions to the socio-political development of Kogi State reflect a commitment to collective progress rather than sectional ambition.
What the district seeks today is not dominance but inclusion—an opportunity to contribute leadership at the highest executive level.
Allowing the governorship to rotate to the West in 2027 would therefore represent more than a political adjustment. It would affirm the principles of fairness and democratic inclusion that sustain multi-ethnic societies. It would also strengthen the sense of belonging among communities that make up the state.
History shows that when power circulates fairly, political tensions reduce and governance becomes more cooperative. Citizens begin to see the state as a shared enterprise rather than a battleground of competing identities.
As 2027 approaches, political parties, traditional institutions, and civil society groups must rise above narrow calculations and place the long-term unity of Kogi State above short-term political advantage. Equity should guide the next transition of leadership.
Ultimately, democracy endures when every community believes it has a stake in the system. For Kogi State, the path to deeper unity may well lie in embracing the spirit of power-sharing and ensuring that the governorship rotates to the West Senatorial District in 2027.
Such a step would not only correct a lingering imbalance but also strengthen the foundations of fairness, stability, and togetherness upon which the future of the state must stand.
– Musa Asiru Bakare, a foundational member of APC and political analyst, writes from Lokoja, Kogi state.
