South-South ADC Endorses Amaechi for 2027 Presidency

South-South ADC Leaders Endorse Rotimi Amaechi for 2027 Presidential Bid

Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from Nigeria’s South-South geopolitical zone have pledged their collective support for former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi should he seek the party’s presidential nomination for the 2027 elections. The announcement was made by John Odigie-Oyegun, a prominent chieftain of the ADC, during a press briefing on Friday.

The endorsement follows a recent meeting between Amaechi and regional ADC leaders, where he formally declared his intention to contest the presidency under the party’s platform. Odigie-Oyegun stated the zone’s leaders were gratified by Amaechi’s decision to consult them beforehand, describing it as a mark of respect for regional leadership structures.

“We are pleased that His Excellency, Rotimi Amaechi, took advantage of this meeting to brief us formally of his intention to run for the presidency,” Odigie-Oyegun said. “We thanked him for the respect he has for the leaders of the zone—for not going lone, for not setting up his own personal structures without consultation, and for ensuring, like every good son, that he tells his people what he has in mind before he embarks on it.”

Odigie-Oyegun confirmed a unanimous decision was reached to provide Amaechi with full support for his ambition. He also announced that the coalition of South-South ADC leaders would convene regularly to share experiences and strategies, with the aim of setting a benchmark for other regional party groups to emulate.

This development signals a significant consolidation of support for Amaechi within a key Nigerian region ahead of the next presidential election cycle. While the ADC is not among the country’s largest political parties, its potential to serve as a platform for a major candidate like Amaechi—a former Rivers State governor and influential figure in national politics—could reshape opposition dynamics. The weekend meeting underscores Amaechi’s active groundwork for a possible return to the presidential race, having previously contested the APC primaries in 2022.

The next step involves Amaechi’s formal declaration and the ADC’s national convention process, where the presidential flagbearer will be selected. The unified stance from the South-South zone provides a notable early boost to his prospective campaign.