Amaechi Advocates for Southern Presidential Candidate in African Democratic Congress
Rotimi Amaechi, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has publicly urged his party to zone its 2027 presidential nomination to the southern region of Nigeria. Speaking to ADC leaders in Kano State, Amaechi argued that a northern candidate would face significant challenges in securing national support.
According to Amaechi, the ADC should adhere to an “unwritten law of power” that currently resides in the South, following the eight-year tenure of President Bola Tinubu, a southerner. He suggested that respecting this informal power rotation would make the party more competitive. “It makes it easier for those of us who are from the South to say, look, we are going to compete,” he stated, referencing a perceived Northern agreement to allow the South to complete its term.
Amaechi warned that if the party nominates a candidate from the North, it would struggle to persuade southern voters. “If someone from the North emerges as the ADC candidate… it will be difficult to convince the southern part of the country to support the person,” he said. He posited that the South might question Northern motives, asking why challenges only arise when power is with the South.
Despite his strong preference for a southern flag-bearer, Amaechi pledged personal loyalty to the party’s eventual primary winner. “Whether it is a Southerner or a Northerner is immaterial. I will support whoever emerges at the primary,” he affirmed.
Amaechi also outlined criteria for selecting the candidate, emphasizing capacity and age as key factors to ensure the nominee can effectively address Nigeria’s challenges. He advised the party to seek “the best material” to inspire confidence among Nigerians.
The ADC is a minor political party that did not field a candidate in the last presidential election. Amaechi’s comments reflect the persistent, often contentious, national debate over geopolitical zoning and power-sharing in Nigerian politics. While no constitutional provision mandates regional rotation, the practice has historically been used by major parties to foster national unity.
His stance highlights the internal dynamics the ADC must navigate ahead of its primaries. The party’s decision on ticket zoning will test its ability to balance regional equity with national electoral viability in a crowded political landscape. The significance of Amaechi’s intervention lies in its contribution to the prelude to the 2027 elections, reinforcing zoning as a critical, if unofficial, factor in campaign strategy.
