Leaders of the African Democratic Congress in the South-South zone issued conflicting accounts of a meeting held on February 27 in Benin City involving Rotimi Amaechi’s reported endorsement as a consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The African Democratic Congress is one of Nigeria’s registered political parties. Ahead of the 2027 general election cycle, internal party discussions have included presidential nomination plans.
Reports emerged that leaders of the ADC’s South-South zonal forum had endorsed former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for the party’s presidential ticket.
At the February 27 meeting in Benin City, several regional party leaders were present when Amaechi informed them of his intention to seek the ADC presidential nomination for 2027.
Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress and senior ADC member John Odigie-Oyegun was also among those in attendance.
The South-South Regional Vice Chairman of the ADC, Usani Uguru Usani, said a motion to express support for Amaechi’s presidential ambition was proposed at the session, followed by a voice vote with affirmative responses and no opposing response, which was interpreted by some participants as a form of endorsement.
In contrast, the South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mabel Oboh, on behalf of the zonal leadership, denied that any endorsement took place at the meeting.
She said there was no motion, vote, resolution, or consensus to endorse Amaechi or any other aspirant for the ADC presidential ticket.
National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Jackie Wayas, also said that Amaechi’s appearance before the leaders was a consultative engagement consistent with party tradition and not an official endorsement.
She emphasised that the meeting’s purpose was to strengthen unity within the zone and consolidate the party’s base but did not confer support on any presidential candidate.
A civil society group aligned with former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, known as the Obidient Movement, also stated that Amaechi was not endorsed by South-South ADC leaders during the meeting.
The differing statements from ADC leaders in the South-South zone reflect internal disagreement on how the outcomes of the February 27 meeting should be described.
Decisions on the party’s presidential nominee for 2027 remain subject to formal processes and the recognised nomination structures of the ADC.
