Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has called on leaders of the emerging opposition coalition to resist ethnic and regional pressure in choosing their presidential candidate for 2027, warning that any form of zoning could fracture the movement before it fully takes root.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank urged the coalition to place competence, character, and capacity above sentiments of tribe or geography if it hopes to present a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu.
“Nigeria doesn’t need a president from the North or South,” he said. “We need a president for all Nigerians—someone with the will and wisdom to tackle insecurity, poverty, joblessness, and social decay.”
Frank praised the coalition’s efforts so far but warned against derailing the vision with exclusionary politics masked as fairness.
“Those insisting on a Southern-only presidential ticket risk setting the coalition on fire before it takes off. Every Nigerian must feel included in this rescue mission.”
He said the country has long suffered under the illusion that where a president comes from guarantees good governance.
“Jonathan was from the South. Buhari from the North. Yet people from both zones still complain of neglect. The region of the president does not feed the poor or protect the weak. Leadership does.”
According to Frank, since 1999, the South has held power for a total of 18 years, while the North has had just 10.
“As a Southerner, I speak not out of bias, but in the interest of fairness. If we want justice and unity, we must practise it—starting within our own coalition.”
He further called on the new leadership of the ADC, the coalition’s adopted platform, to conduct open, transparent, and competitive primaries.
“Let every qualified aspirant, North or South, go to the field. Let the people decide. That’s democracy. Not coronation by geography.”
Frank warned that forcing a Southern candidate on the coalition could spark internal revolt and alienate millions of potential voters across the North and Middle Belt.
“This is not the time to play ethnic politics. The country is on life support. We need healing, not division.”
He urged coalition leaders to reject any form of ethnic blackmail and focus on building a strong, united platform that speaks to the hopes of ordinary Nigerians.
“This is a moment to prove we are different. The real battle is not North versus South—it’s competence versus incompetence.”