A former media aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advised Nigeria’s opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) to prioritize experienced politicians from the southern region as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. Laolu Akande specifically named former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as viable contenders who could mount a credible challenge against President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Akande argued that the opposition must present a candidate with a proven governance record from the South if it hopes to compete effectively. “If they were serious, people like Rotimi Amaechi, people like Peter Obi ought to be the ones to be pushed forward,” he stated. He emphasized that such a candidate must possess the stature and experience to stand “head-to-head against President Tinubu.”
Akande detailed Amaechi’s extensive background, noting his tenure as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor, and minister of transportation. “Tremendous career in politics, opportunities in service. And he was the guy that was in charge of infrastructure development,” Akande said, presenting Amaechi as an example of the caliber required.
The commentary highlights a central dilemma within Nigeria’s fragmented opposition: how to forge a unified front. Akande cautioned that failure to coalesce around a strong southern candidate could allow former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the main opposition party’s 2023 candidate, to retain de facto leadership of the anti-Tinubu space by default. “As things stand now… he will probably be able to forge his way through by some means, because he seems to be the strongest politician in the party. The shadows of Atiku are still hanging heavily,” Akande observed.
The ADC, a minor party, has previously served as a platform for opposition figures. Akande’s remarks underscore the ongoing strategic calculations among opposition circles regarding regional balancing, candidate viability, and coalition-building ahead of the next electoral cycle. The push for a southern standard-bearer reflects Nigeria’s unwritten tradition of rotating the presidency between the north and south, a dynamic that will shape the opposition’s prospects in 2027.
