While Nigeria is divided into the predominately Muslim north and predominately Christian south, there are also six subregions of Nigeria called geopolitical zones. National-level political offices, such as the presidency, vice presidency, senate presidency and speaker of the house, are generally assigned by Nigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to specific zones within the north or south — each position lasting for two four-year terms — according to an unwritten PDP agreement known as “zoning.” Zoning is meant to ensure national-level political and economic inclusion among Nigeria’s various regions and avoid a potentially unstable regionalization. President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy at the country’s 2011 presidential election risks upsetting this agreement.
