Former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, should consider a southerner as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Kano State on Wednesday, Amaechi said the party needs to weigh three key considerations when selecting its presidential candidate, which, according to him, include competence, age, and the current balance of power in the country.
The former governor of Rivers State added that the ADC must field a presidential candidate acceptable to the southern part of the country.
“I will support whoever emerges. But I also advise the ADC to look around and identify the best material [aspirant] that can convince Nigerians that things will be turned around,” Amaechi said.
“First is capacity, second is age, and the third, which is the last point, is to respect the unwritten law of power [rotation], which is the [turn] of the South.”
Amaechi said the South should be allowed to complete its eight-year term before returning power to the North, noting that such an arrangement would make it easier for southern contenders to participate.
He cautioned that presenting a northern candidate when many southerners believe power should remain in the South could diminish the ADC’s appeal in the region.
“If you elect somebody from the North, I’m not saying we won’t campaign [for the candidate], but it will be difficult to convince the South to give up power,” he said.
Amaechi said regardless of his preference for a southern candidate for the 2027 election, he would support whoever wins the ADC presidential ticket.
“Whether it is a southerner or a northerner is immaterial, I will support whoever emerges at the primary,” he said. In July 2025, Amaechi said he would be willing to serve one term if he secures the ADC ticket and wins the 2027 presidential election.
