Comrade Timi Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged leaders of the opposition coalition to allow aspirants from all regions to vie for the presidency in 2027.
Frank, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, warned that pushing for a southern-only presidential ticket could derail the movement and risk alienating parts of the country.
“The coalition must remain focused on rescuing Nigeria, not zoning. Any attempt to exclude a region from the race will result in a stillbirth for this movement,” he said.
Frank commended the coalition’s effort in mobilising opposition forces but cautioned against “selfish agitations” that could derail its objective.
He said Nigerians are in search of a competent and compassionate leader who can address the country’s challenges, not a candidate selected on ethnic or regional considerations.
His words: “Nigeria needs a president for all Nigerians, not a northern or southern president.
“What matters is capacity, credibility and general acceptability, not geography.”
The Bayelsa-born political activist said those who insist on a southern-only ticket were promoting a divisive narrative that undermines the coalition’s credibility.
“Those saying the South alone must produce presidential candidates for 2027 should perish the thought.
“Their utterances portray members from other geopolitical zones as mere tools to attain power, which is unacceptable,” he stated.
He insisted that aspirants from across the six geopolitical zones should be allowed to test their popularity through free and fair primaries.
“If a northern candidate wins, fine. If a southern candidate wins, also fine. But the process must be open to all,” he said.
Frank dismissed claims that only a southern presidency could balance the country’s power rotation.
He argued that the South has already benefited more since 1999, having held the presidency for 18 years, compared to the North’s 10 years.
Frank also urged the new leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which serves as the coalition’s platform, to ensure that the selection process is transparent and inclusive.
He warned that ignoring these principles could further polarise the country and weaken public trust in the coalition.
“What Nigerians need is leadership, not tribalism, not religion. The coalition must rise above ethnic blackmail and focus on who can deliver good governance,” Frank added.