According to a report published by Daily Trust on July 14, 2025, Peter Obi has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to allocate its 2027 presidential ticket to a candidate from southern Nigeria, emphasizing that such a move would promote fairness and reinforce national unity.
Speaking at an event held in Ilọrin to honour Associate Professor Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia, the former Labour Party presidential flagbearer highlighted the significance of rotating leadership among Nigeria’s regions as a way to enhance national cohesion. He pointed out that choosing a southern candidate in the next election would help address historical regional imbalances in the country’s leadership structure.
Obi warned that selecting another northern aspirant would sideline the South’s rightful chance to produce the next president. According to him, giving the South the opportunity to lead would help ease tensions and foster peaceful relations among Nigeria’s diverse population.
His comments come as opposition groups, including the ADC, intensify discussions on coalition-building ahead of the 2027 polls. With prominent figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark joining the ADC platform, debates around zoning are emerging as a decisive factor in shaping the opposition’s electoral strategy.
Obi emphasized that reserving the presidential ticket for the South would stand as a symbol of equity and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s political landscape.
In his exact words, he said, “Why should we have a northerner again when we can easily allow the south to complete their tenure to promote unity and cohesiveness? Afterwards, our northern brothers can take up their eight years.
