Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Obidient Movement has cautioned the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against zoning its presidential ticket to the North, warning that such a decision could hand an easy victory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
National Coordinator of the movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, on Sunday, said several stakeholders believe it is still the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the country’s next president, following the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023.
Tanko spoke while reacting to calls by the Coalition of Progressive Democratic Movements (COPDEM), which urged the ADC to zone its presidential ticket to the South ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The demand formed part of the resolutions reached at a joint National Executive Council meeting and strategy conference of COPDEM and ADC held in Abuja last week.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, participants stated that zoning the ticket to the South would help the party build a broad-based and nationally acceptable coalition capable of winning power in 2027.
“The conference resolved that to build a broad, credible and nationally accepted governing coalition, the presidential ticket of the ADC for the 2027 general elections should be zoned to Southern Nigeria,” the communiqué read.
The coalition added that the recommendation aligns with Nigeria’s long-standing political culture of North-South power rotation, which it said has helped maintain political stability and national balance.
Speaking further, Tanko described the agitation for a Southern presidential candidate as logical, noting that national unity should take precedence over personal interests.“As far as I am concerned, there are a lot of issues being raised regarding zoning the ADC presidential ticket to the South. That, to me, is very logical when you consider the fact that it is the turn of the South to rule,” he said.“You cannot jettison such an arrangement because of personal interests.We
We must prioritise national interest and the unity of this country.The party must ensure parity between the North and the South in power sharing.
” He warned that failure to zone the ticket to the South could ultimately favour the incumbent president.“Anything short of that may amount to another ticket for Tinubu to continue in office,” Tanko added.
On the chances of the opposition against the APC, which currently controls over 30 state governors, Tanko insisted that the 2027 election would not be a walkover for the ruling party.”Even with over 30 governors, the election is not a walkover for Tinubu. Nigerians are unhappy with many of the governors who defected to the APC.
People believe many of them joined the ruling party for personal interests,” he said.According to him, voters are waiting for the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction at the polls.
“It is going to be the people against the government,” he stated.
Tanko also revealed that many members of the Obidient Movement have joined the ADC in recent months.
He noted that while some supporters remain outside the party structure, they remain committed to supporting former Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in future elections.
“Majority of Obidient members, including myself, are in ADC at the moment. However, there are some members who are not registered in the party but are ready to vote for Peter Obi wherever he contests,” Tanko said.
