NDC Adopts Southern Presidency for 2027, Kwankwaso Reacts

NDC Adopts Southern Presidency for 2027, Kwankwaso Reacts

Former Kano State Governor and opposition leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has declared support for the decision of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, describing the move as necessary for fairness, unity, and political balance.

Kwankwaso made the remarks on Saturday during the party’s national convention in Abuja, where key resolutions on zoning, leadership structure, and party direction ahead of the 2027 general elections were adopted.

According to him, Nigeria is currently facing deepening challenges in security, economic stability, education, and investment growth, largely due to what he described as “weak leadership and poor governance.”

“Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads. The world is undergoing a profound geopolitical shift, yet our nation has been caught unprepared largely because of poor leadership,” he said.

The former presidential candidate said the economic hardship in Nigeria, rising insecurity, and declining investor confidence have placed citizens under severe pressure, stressing the need for a leadership model that prioritises national unity.

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Kwankwaso also referenced historical political alliances in Nigeria as justification for rotational leadership arrangements, citing partnerships between the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), and the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) before independence.

He further mentioned the political collaboration between former President Shehu Shagari and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme during the Second Republic as examples of unity-driven governance.

“It is therefore with a great sense of unity and solidarity that, as a loyal party member, I support the decision to zone the presidential ticket of the NDC to the South so that the region can complete its turn in producing national leadership,” Kwankwaso said.

The zoning arrangement, according to party resolutions, allocates the NDC 2027 presidential ticket to the South for a single four-year term, after which it is expected to rotate back to the North.

The motion for the zoning structure was reportedly moved by Afam Victor Ogene and seconded by Seyi Sowunmi, and was unanimously adopted by delegates at the convention.

Political observers say the decision could reshape early dynamics within the opposition, particularly strengthening the prospects of key southern aspirants, including former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who is seen as a major contender within emerging opposition alignments.

The party’s National Chairman, Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, also reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to constitutional democracy, internal discipline, and national development, describing the zoning decision as part of efforts to build trust and inclusiveness.

Kwankwaso and Obi are among several high-profile political figures recently linked with the NDC following reported realignments in Nigeria’s opposition landscape ahead of 2027.

The development is expected to intensify debates around power rotation in Nigeria, zoning politics, and the structure of opposition coalitions as preparations for the next general election gather momentum.

NDC Adopts Southern Presidency for 2027, Kwankwaso Reacts