ENUGU, NIGERIA — The political landscape within the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been thrown into sharp focus as major youth leaders across the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State have officially declared their unwavering support for the former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, ahead of the party’s 2027 presidential primary election.
In a decisive move that exposes growing internal ideological rifts, the youth wing of the party has categorically distanced itself from recent pronouncements suggesting that the Enugu State chapter of the ADC was backing former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the country's top job.
The political fireworks began on Saturday following a strongly worded press statement signed and issued by the prominent ADC youth leader in the state, Festus Ifesinachi Omeh. Speaking on behalf of the local government youth coordinators and stakeholders, Omeh described the pro-Atiku claims as a fabricated narrative designed to deceive the public and the party’s national hierarchy.
The coalition of youth leaders noted that the earlier endorsement of a Northern candidate by certain state elements did not reflect the reality, mood, or political aspirations of the party's rank and file in Enugu.
> “We wish to state clearly and unequivocally that the chairman’s statement does not represent the position, mood, or wishes of the majority of ADC members and youths in Enugu State. It is false, misleading, and appears designed to create a false impression before the national leadership and the Nigerian public,” Omeh stated emphatically.
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The group alleged that "politically sponsored individuals" and external interests were attempting to deploy propaganda and financial influence to hijack the Enugu State chapter of the party. They warned that using the state's name to endorse a Northern candidate was an act of political mercenary work that would not be tolerated by the party's vibrant youth demographic.
Central to the Enugu ADC youths' rejection of Atiku Abubakar is the highly contentious issue of zoning and power rotation between the Northern and Southern regions of Nigeria. The youth leaders argued that for the sake of national cohesion, peace, and political stability, the presidency must remain in the South come 2027.
The group maintained that returning power to the North after just a single term of a Southern presidency would violate the unwritten code of equity that keeps the diverse nation together. They insisted that the principles of justice and unity, which many political stakeholders preach across the country, must be practiced within the ADC itself.
“For the sake of equity, fairness, and justice, we believe strongly that the presidency should remain in the South in 2027,” the statement read. “Nigeria cannot preach balance and national unity while attempting to abruptly return power to the North after only one Southern tenure. It would be unjust and unfair.”
By aligning themselves with Rotimi Amaechi, the youth leaders emphasized that they are backing a tested Southern leader with a proven track record of administrative governance and infrastructural development. They described Amaechi as the singular Southern aspirant under the ADC banner who embodies the strength, national appeal, and vision required to steer the country forward.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that ADC youths in Enugu State will not support or vote for Atiku Abubakar. We are fully aligned with and committed to supporting the only Southern presidential aspirant who has officially declared under the ADC, Rotimi Amaechi,” Omeh added.
The timing of this declaration is critical, coming just days before the party's scheduled internal processes. The Enugu youth leaders raised the alarm over suspected plots by certain party elites to manipulate the outcomes of the primary activities slated for the 25th of the month.
Warning against subverting the democratic will of the party's grassroots, the coalition vowed to resist any backroom deals or fraudulent alterations of the members' choices. They asserted that any attempt to misrepresent the wishes of the Enugu people would be met with fierce, lawful, and democratic resistance.
To prevent an impending internal crisis, the group directed an urgent appeal to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the African Democratic Congress. They called on the national leadership to step in immediately, closely monitor the unfolding political developments in Enugu State, and ensure total transparency throughout the primary election process. They stressed that the national headquarters must not fold its arms and watch sponsored actors generate unnecessary tension within the state chapter.
As the political atmosphere in Nigeria intensifies, the ADC is increasingly viewed as a formidable third-force alternative capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general election. Both Rotimi Amaechi and Atiku Abubakar, who have historically commanded massive political followings across different party platforms, are now locked in a strategic battle for the soul of the ADC ticket.
Meanwhile, the political calculus is further complicated by the broader national landscape. The incumbent president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is widely expected to seek a second four-year term in office in 2027 under the APC banner.
With Southern youth groups within the opposition drawing a line in the sand over zoning, the ADC’s upcoming primary election is set to become a defining litmus test for the party's internal democracy and its ultimate viability on the national stage.
