The Coalition of Progressive Democratic Movements has urged the African Democratic Congress to zone its presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.
The call formed part of the resolutions reached at a joint National Executive Council meeting and strategy conference of COPDEM and ADC held in Abuja on Tuesday.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, participants said zoning the ticket to the South would help the party build a broad-based and nationally acceptable coalition capable of winning power in 2027.
“The conference resolved that to build a broad, credible, and nationally accepted governing coalition, the presidential ticket of the ADC for the 2027 general elections should be zoned to Southern Nigeria,” the communiqué stated.
The coalition said the recommendation was in line with Nigeria’s long-standing political culture of North–South power rotation, which it noted has helped maintain stability and balance in the country.
“This recommendation reflects the widely accepted Nigerian political tradition of North–South leadership rotation, which has helped maintain balance and stability within the federation,” it added.
The coalition argued that adopting the zoning principle would significantly improve the party’s chances of mobilising support across key regions.
“Zoning the presidential ticket to the South would significantly strengthen the party’s ability to mobilise support across key electoral regions and consolidate a winning national coalition,” the communiqué said.
It also stressed that any credible political platform must reflect fairness and inclusion in its leadership choices.
“A political platform that seeks to represent all Nigerians must demonstrate the courage to uphold the principles of equity, fairness, and inclusion in leadership selection,” the communiqué noted.
Beyond zoning, the coalition emphasised the need for a unifying national message centred on shared values such as fairness, justice, and unity, while also advocating for internal reforms within the ADC to strengthen its organisational structures.
It further warned that Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges demand a new leadership approach driven by competence and credibility.
“These challenges require a new leadership direction grounded in competence, credibility, national unity, and inclusive governance,” the communiqué added.
The coalition concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among opposition forces to build a viable alternative that can restore public trust and deliver effective governance.