2027: Selling Northern Candidate to Southern Voters Will Be Tough – Amaechi Tells ADC
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the potential challenge of presenting a northern presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi warned that it would be difficult to convince southern voters to support a northern flagbearer, given Nigeria’s sensitive political balancing and zoning considerations.
Speaking at a political forum, the former Rivers State governor said political parties must take into account the country’s diverse structure and prevailing sentiments ahead of the next election cycle.
“It will be hard to sell a northern candidate to southern voters in 2027. We must be realistic about the political climate and the expectations of Nigerians,” Amaechi said.
He stressed that issues of equity, fairness and power rotation remain significant factors in Nigeria’s electoral politics, particularly in the aftermath of recent elections.
Amaechi urged political stakeholders within the ADC to carefully evaluate their strategy and consider the broader national mood before making key decisions about candidate selection.
The former minister’s comments come amid ongoing discussions within opposition parties over possible alliances and zoning arrangements ahead of 2027.
The ADC has yet to officially respond to Amaechi’s remarks, but political observers say debates over regional balance are likely to intensify as parties begin early positioning for the next presidential race.