The South-South zonal leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has distanced itself from claims that the region endorsed former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
The clarification followed comments by former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, who recently stated that South-South stakeholders unanimously backed Amaechi’s presidential ambition after a consultative engagement.
“We are glad that our son, Rotimi Amaechi, took advantage of this meeting to brief us formally of his intention to run for the presidency of our great nation,” Oyegun had said.
“I can report that a unanimous decision was taken to give him all the support that he needs in pursuit of his ambition.”
However, in a statement released on Saturday, South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mabel Oboh, rejected the claim, describing it as inaccurate and misleading.
According to Oboh, the February 27 meeting held at Oyegun’s residence in Benin City was convened primarily to deliberate on party unity, grassroots expansion, and strategic preparations ahead of future elections across the region.
She explained that although Amaechi used the opportunity to formally inform party leaders of his intention to contest the ADC presidential ticket, no formal endorsement process took place.
“Consultation is not endorsement, and courtesy is not coronation. Receiving a prominent son of the South-South who chose to formally brief his regional leaders cannot be twisted into a declaration of support,” the statement reads.
Oboh further stressed that no motion was introduced, no voting exercise conducted, and no resolution adopted to support any aspirant during the gathering attended by party leaders from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers states.
The zonal leadership maintained that suggesting an endorsement undermines the ADC’s internal democratic framework, noting that presidential candidates would emerge through constitutionally recognised party organs rather than regional consultations.
She added that attributing such a decision to senior party figures contradicts established democratic principles.
“It is inconceivable that a leader of his pedigree would undermine the very democratic structures he has spent decades strengthening,” Oboh added.
