Politics
Aisha Yesufu urges ADC to prioritize zoning Presidency to the South amid coalition tensions
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
27 Sep 2025 05:23 AM
Prominent activist and supporter of Peter Obi, Aisha Yesufu, has ignited a fresh debate within Nigeria's political landscape by calling on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to prioritize zoning the presidential ticket to the South before issuing ultimatums to coalition members.
Her statement, posted on X Friday, has added fuel to ongoing tensions within the opposition coalition formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
In her post, which quoted an earlier press release from the Obidient Movement coordinated by Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Yesufu argued that zoning the presidency to the South aligns with the principles of federal character—a long-standing practice in Nigerian politics to ensure equitable representation between the northern and southern regions.
"Before ADC talks about any ultimatum it must first of all talk about zoning the presidency to the South. Just like federal character it is what has been used to ensure the south and north get to send in a representative to lead the country at different times," she wrote.
The statement comes in response to an ultimatum from the ADC, which has demanded that Peter Obi and other coalition members resign from their respective parties—namely the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—to fully commit to the ADC platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
This coalition, formed earlier this year and comprising high-profile figures like Atiku Abubakar and former APC stalwarts, aims to unify opposition votes that were split during the 2023 elections, where Tinubu secured victory with 37% of the vote.
In a press release on September 26, Dr. Yunusa Tanko emphasized the need for equity, noting that with the presidency currently held by Tinubu from the Southwest, fairness dictates zoning the next ticket to the South.
Yesufu’s intervention amplifies this demand, framing it as a prerequisite for coalition unity.
However, the ADC has resisted zoning demands, with party officials advocating for open primaries to select candidates without regional restrictions.
Her statement, posted on X Friday, has added fuel to ongoing tensions within the opposition coalition formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
In her post, which quoted an earlier press release from the Obidient Movement coordinated by Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Yesufu argued that zoning the presidency to the South aligns with the principles of federal character—a long-standing practice in Nigerian politics to ensure equitable representation between the northern and southern regions.
"Before ADC talks about any ultimatum it must first of all talk about zoning the presidency to the South. Just like federal character it is what has been used to ensure the south and north get to send in a representative to lead the country at different times," she wrote.
The statement comes in response to an ultimatum from the ADC, which has demanded that Peter Obi and other coalition members resign from their respective parties—namely the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—to fully commit to the ADC platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
This coalition, formed earlier this year and comprising high-profile figures like Atiku Abubakar and former APC stalwarts, aims to unify opposition votes that were split during the 2023 elections, where Tinubu secured victory with 37% of the vote.
In a press release on September 26, Dr. Yunusa Tanko emphasized the need for equity, noting that with the presidency currently held by Tinubu from the Southwest, fairness dictates zoning the next ticket to the South.
Yesufu’s intervention amplifies this demand, framing it as a prerequisite for coalition unity.
However, the ADC has resisted zoning demands, with party officials advocating for open primaries to select candidates without regional restrictions.
Comments