A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, believes the power-sharing deal between northern and southern Nigeria should be respected and says he will be a one-term president if given the chance to lead the country in 2027.
Amaechi spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, hinging his decision on national interest.
When asked if he would do a single term if he were to be the candidate of the newly floated African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2027, he said, “Of course. I told you. You know that I speak my mind.”
Amaechi said, “If I won’t do more than four years, I would say that. If I were to do more than four years, I would say I would do more than four”.
Nigeria practises an unwritten power-sharing deal between the North and South, rotating the presidency among the two major blocs.
President Bola Tinubu from the South-West region of the country took over power in 2023 from Muhammadu Buhari from the North-West after the latter completed eight years in office.
As the country gears up for the polls in 2027, debates about power rotation have dominated conversations.
The newly formed coalition, which includes heavyweight politicians, has yet to say which region it would zone the presidency.
But when asked about the ADC’s position on zoning, and if it would consider a southerner to do a single four-year term in 2027, Amaechi said, “Of course, of course. Let me tell you why.
“For now, the way Nigeria is, you must keep to that agreement—unwritten agreement—that says South eight years, North eight years.”
The former minister recalled how he fought for the return of power to the North in 2015, saying he believes in power sharing between the two major regions of the country.
“I led the fight against the PDP government. Why? Because there was an agreement that the government at that time would spend four years. But after four years, the government reneged on it, and I said no, that would be unfair.
That will be instability at its peak because the North will react.
“So, the best thing to do is what? It is to support a northern candidate to continue the balance of power.
“Just like I will be among those saying to the North that the South must be allowed to complete its tenure. If the South is not allowed to complete its tenure, then I have made a mistake in supporting it.”
