2027: Amaechi advises ADC to weigh ‘zoning realities’ in choice of presidential candidate

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has had listed capacity, age and the prevailing power dynamics in the country as the three things that the African Democratic Congress, ADC must consider in choosing its 2027 presidential candidate:

Amaechi said this in Kano while responding to questions on whether he would support any candidate that emerges from the ADC for the 2027 presidential election.

The former Rivers governor who has also indicated interest in the presidential ticket of ADC, however said the party must also acknowledged the current rotation of power in the country.

“First is capacity. Second is age. Third, which is the last point, is to respect the unwritten law of power that is now in the South,” Amaechi said.

He said ADC may find it difficult to sell a northern presidential candidate to voters in southern Nigeria.

He therefore urged the party to weigh zoning realities carefully ahead of the next general election.

But Amaechi said he was prepared to back whoever emerges the party’s flagbearer.

“I will support whoever emerges. But I also advise the ADC to look around and identify the best material that can convince Nigerians that things will be turned around,” he said.

“They should conclude that and then transfer power to the North. It makes it easier for those of us from the South to say we are going to compete because the North has said, ‘finish all this’,” he said.

“If you elect somebody from the North, I’m not saying we won’t campaign, but it will be difficult to convince the South to give up power because they will ask the north, ‘Why is it that it’s only when power comes to the South that there is a problem?” he said.

“Whether it is a southerner or a northerner is immaterial, I will support whoever emerges at the primary,” he said.

Amaechi also reiterated his readiness to serve a single four-year term to allow power to return to the North of he emerged as the candidate of ADC and elected the president.

Amaechi and Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party are the two leading aspirants for the 2027 presidential ticket of ADC.

Peter Obi has also promised to serve only a single term if was elected the party’s candidate and elected to Aso Rock.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the only leading aspirant for the presidential ticket of ADC from the Northern part of the country has repeatedly said the ticket will not be zoned.

He has the support of former Kaduna State governor and ADC chieftain, Malam Nasir El-Rufai who also recently said the party would not zone its 2027 presidential ticket