The zoning system in Nigerian politics refers to

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks what "zoning" means in Nigerian politics. This is about a political arrangement, not about how elections are counted or funded.

Step 2: Explain the concept Zoning is an informal arrangement, mostly within political parties (such as the PDP and APC), where key political offices, especially the presidency, are shared or rotated among the country's geopolitical zones (North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, South-South). The aim is to promote fairness, national unity, and a sense of belonging, so that no region feels permanently excluded from power. It is closely linked to the principle of federal character, which promotes equitable representation.

A common example is the North-South rotation of the presidency, such as the movement from a Southern president to a Northern one, and the way parties have debated zoning their presidential tickets before elections.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. The rotation of power among different regions: This matches the definition of zoning exactly. ✔
• B. The process of selecting party leaders: This describes party primaries or congresses. Zoning can influence who is eligible, but it is not the selection process itself.
• C. The allocation of campaign funds: This relates to party finance and has nothing to do with zoning.
• D. The system of proportional representation: This is an electoral system where seats are shared according to the votes each party gets. It is different from zoning.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is A, the rotation of power among different regions.

Exam tip: When you see "zoning" in Government, think "rotation": of offices among zones. Link it with federal character and remember that both aim at fairness and national unity. Also remember that zoning is a party convention and is not written in the Constitution.