With preparations heating up ahead of the 2027 general elections, two major opposition parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — have thrown their weight behind producing presidential candidates from Nigeria’s southern region.
In what appears to be a significant realignment, the ADC has tentatively endorsed former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as its consensus flagbearer. According to a senior party official, who spoke to Nigerian Pilot under the condition of anonymity, the ADC leadership and major stakeholders have agreed to shelve primary elections in favour of adopting Obi as a sole candidate.
“We are united in the decision to present a southern candidate. All indications point to Peter Obi being our man for 2027. His acceptance across the country, integrity, and promise to serve only one term makes him the most viable option,” the party chieftain revealed.
The source further clarified that Obi’s promise to serve a single four-year term was a major reason behind his rising support among political blocs, particularly those who see the gesture as a path to restoring power balance between the North and South by 2031.
The ADC headquarters in Abuja was a hive of activity on Monday, with a large turnout of new members registering their allegiance to the party. Many of them were former members of the Labour Party, disillusioned by the party’s internal wrangling.
One of them, who identified himself as a former state executive of the Labour Party, said: “Peter Obi has been the only reason we stayed in the LP. But with the ongoing factional crisis — three chairmen pulling in different directions — the movement can no longer survive in such chaos. That’s why I’m following him to the ADC.”
Meanwhile, in a separate but significant development, the PDP has resolved to zone its presidential ticket to the South. In a communiqué released after a high-level meeting in Abuja, party elders and leaders agreed that zoning the presidency southward would reflect fairness, uphold federal character principles, and align with the party’s constitution.
The communiqué also warned against the divisive internal tendencies that led to the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 elections.
“To avoid the bitter experience of the last election, the party must act decisively. Zoning the presidency to the South is both a strategic and moral necessity, especially after eight years of northern leadership under former President Muhammadu Buhari,” the statement read.
Party leaders also urged compliance with the Supreme Court judgment on internal party matters, calling for unity and strategic alignment going into 2027.
Political observers say the southward shift by both ADC and PDP underscores growing consensus on the need for regional equity and political inclusion. With Peter Obi emerging as a common rallying point, the stage may be set for a potentially groundbreaking coalition — one that could pose a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next electoral cycle.
