2027 Election: Amaechi Warns ADC Against Fielding Northern Candidate, Cites Southern Power Sentiment

Former Rivers governor says party must weigh capacity, age and zoning reality ahead of presidential ticket

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that presenting a northern presidential candidate in 2027 could make it difficult to win support from voters in southern Nigeria.

Speaking in Kano, Amaechi urged the party’s leadership to take regional political sensitivities seriously as it prepares for the next general election, stressing that strategic decisions will determine how widely the party is accepted across the country.

Amaechi, who has declared interest in contesting the ADC presidential ticket, said he would ultimately support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate but insisted that careful consideration must be given to what he described as the “unspoken rule” of power balance between the North and South.

“I will support whoever emerges,” he said, while urging the party to “look around and find the best material that can show Nigerians that things will start to improve.”

The former Rivers State governor outlined three factors he believes the ADC must prioritise when choosing its presidential candidate: competence, age, and the prevailing political mood regarding zoning.

“First is capacity. Second is age. Third, and that’s the final point, is to respect the unspoken rule about power that exists in the South,” Amaechi stated.

He noted that many southern voters currently believe political power should remain in the region for the sake of balance, and ignoring this sentiment could weaken the party’s appeal.

Amaechi argued that acknowledging this expectation would make it easier for southern politicians and voters to rally behind the ADC’s platform.

“If you choose someone from the North, I’m not saying we won’t try to campaign, but it will be hard to get the South to give up power because they will ask the North, ‘Why is it that only when power comes to the South does there become a problem?’” he said.

Despite his warning, Amaechi reaffirmed his commitment to party unity, saying regional origin would not affect his loyalty to the ADC’s eventual flagbearer.

“Whether someone is from the South or the North doesn’t matter to me; I will support whoever comes out on top in the primary,” he added.

Amaechi also pledged that if he secures the ADC presidential nomination and wins the 2027 election, he would serve only one four-year term to allow power to return to the North.