The group, Peter Obi Our President (PETOOP), has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, warning of dire political consequences if it fails to do so.
Speaking during a press briefing in Jos on April 18, the National Convener of the group, Magnus Oraka, said the move was necessary to ensure fairness and political balance ahead of the next general elections.
He cautioned that presenting a Northern candidate could weaken the opposition and give the ruling party an easy path to victory.
“If the ADC fields a Northern candidate, it will split the Northern opposition vote into fragments, while the South remains divided and underrepresented,” Oraka said.
“Failure to zone the ticket to the South is not just a mistake; it is tantamount to gifting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a second term on a silver platter,” he added.
The group also addressed recent comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding power rotation in the country.
Oraka rejected Atiku’s claim that the North should produce the next president based on leadership records since 1999.
“Nigeria did not begin in 1999. When you consider leadership from 1960, the North has ruled longer than the South,” he stated.
He insisted that, based on historical analysis, the South has a stronger moral claim to produce the next president in 2027.
“We advise Atiku Abubakar, at all costs, to step aside. His continued ambition only serves to divide the opposition and strengthen the ruling party,” Oraka said.
The group further raised concerns about the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of partisanship.
It specifically criticized the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, over alleged interference in party affairs.
“An INEC chairman who openly shows bias cannot be trusted to conduct free, fair, and credible elections,” Oraka declared.
PETOOP alleged that the commission’s actions in the internal affairs of the ADC undermine democratic principles and electoral integrity.
The group concluded by demanding the immediate resignation of the INEC chairman, insisting that restoring public confidence in the electoral system is critical ahead of the 2027 elections.
