Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Onochie Osheokwu, the Regional Colligate Coordinator of the Obidient Movement in the South-South zone, has called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to allocate its presidential ticket to a candidate from the Southern region of Nigeria. Osheokwu made the statement during an interview on Arise Television, which was monitored by the Media Talk Africa.
The appeal comes as political parties intensify preparations for the next electoral cycle. Osheokwu argued that public sentiment in the South-South aligns with this position, stating that Nigerians already recognize the strongest potential candidate. He referenced former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who hails from the Southeast, as an embodiment of the southern leadership the nation seeks.
“We in the South-South want the ADC to zone its presidential ticket to the South,” Osheokwu said. “Among all the contenders, we in the Obidient movement believe the best candidate is clear. The one who embodies the conscience of the movement and the leadership that Nigerians are seeking.”
He further commented on a recent meeting hosted by former national chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, describing it as a consultative gathering. However, he criticized the current political discourse, alleging it has become dominated by propaganda rather than substantive national issues.
The Obidient Movement, which grew prominently around Peter Obi’s 2023 campaign, is not a registered political party but serves as a significant civic and advocacy network. The ADC, a minor party that did not win any states in the 2023 elections, has yet to declare its zoning strategy for 2027. Zoning, an informal rotational arrangement among major parties to distribute presidential candidacies among the country’s six geopolitical zones, remains a key, though unofficial, factor in coalition-building.
Osheokwu’s statement signals early maneuvering by regional interests within the broader opposition space. It underscores the persistent influence of regional balancing in Nigerian politics and reflects efforts by the Obidient Movement’s remnants to consolidate behind a unified southern candidate from a smaller party, potentially as a bargaining chip or alternative platform. The ADC’s response to this regional pressure will be closely watched as the political landscape for 2027 continues to develop.
