South Push Gains Ground as Datti and Amaechi Speak on 2027 Election

Two key political figures from the 2023 elections, Datti Baba-Ahmed and Rotimi Amaechi, are drawing attention to the ongoing conversation about power rotation ahead of the 2027 presidential polls.

Both leaders believe that the next president of Nigeria should come from the southern region, continuing the existing pattern that alternates leadership between the North and South.

The discussion became more intense after a group of opposition leaders chose the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new political platform. The decision followed concerns that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) are struggling with internal divisions and may not present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Datti Baba-Ahmed, who ran alongside Peter Obi in 2023 under the Labour Party, raised concerns during a television interview about the future of the opposition. He pointed to the potential conflict that could arise if northern politicians, like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, return to the race. He warned that such moves could disrupt the fragile balance of rotation that many Nigerians have come to expect, especially after the North held power for eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation and one-time governor of Rivers State, also spoke about the need to allow the South to complete its turn. He recalled his past opposition to attempts to deny the North their slot in the past and said he would stand against any effort to take the presidency back to the North before the South finishes its eight-year cycle. He made it clear that he sees the 2027 election as a test of fairness and balance in the country.

The idea of zoning has always stirred political debate in Nigeria. While it is not written in law, many see it as a way to keep the peace among the country’s diverse regions. In 2019, all the presidential candidates from the major parties were from the North. But in 2023, the South took center stage with Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and Amaechi all running or contesting within their parties. Now that President Tinubu has completed one term and is expected to seek re-election, voices like Amaechi’s and Baba-Ahmed’s are calling for the continuation of southern leadership until 2031.

The growing support for the ADC as a possible alternative for opposition forces is reshaping the political scene. As more leaders join the platform, the question of who will carry the party’s presidential ticket becomes more urgent. Baba-Ahmed raised doubts about what might happen if a northerner like Atiku joins the race, especially since both Obi and Amaechi also have strong interests in running.

What happens next will depend on how well the opposition parties manage their internal differences and how they agree on a joint candidate. For now, the call for a southern candidate in 2027 is getting louder, and it may shape the path the opposition takes over the next two years. With political strategies being mapped out and alliances forming, the direction of Nigeria’s leadership in 2027 is far from certain. But one thing is clear — the debate over zoning will be at the heart of the battle.