The South-South leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has insisted on endorsing a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as its 2027 presidential candidate, clarifying that the backing was voluntary and secured through a democratic voice vote.
The ADC National Vice Chairman (South-South), Usani Uguru Usani, issued a statement on Saturday providing a step-by-step account of how the endorsement occurred, following claims by some party leaders in the zone that no such endorsement took place.
Usani explained that at a meeting of party leaders in the zone held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Friday, February 27, 2026, and chaired by former Edo State Governor, John Odigie-Oyegun, Rotimi Amaechi declared his interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election and solicited the zone’s support.
“Whereas the forum ignited certain issues of internal leadership organisation within the ADC in the SS, the following developments, amongst others, ensued: H.E. Rotimi Amaechi declared his interest in bidding for the presidential seat in the 2027 election. He solicited our support as people from his geopolitical base,” the statement read in part.
According to Usani, a motion was suggested to uphold Amaechi’s request, and the regional leader, Odigie-Oyegun, called for a voice vote to gauge the general opinion of the forum.
“There was a suggestion for a motion to uphold the request. A brief remark was made to recap the request and the importance of having a general opinion on the issue by the regional leader, H.E. Chief J. Odigie-Oyegun. Ultimately, he called for a voice vote to respond to this appeal,” Usani said.
The ADC National Vice Chairman emphasized that the response was overwhelmingly in favor of Amaechi.
“At the call for response, there was a loud affirmative ‘AY’ while a contra call had no ‘NAY’ response. This applause was a pledge to support him, which can be interpreted as an endorsement,” he stated.
Usani stressed that the endorsement does not compel any party member to act against their personal conviction, acknowledging that support for other aspirants within the zone may still exist.
“Notably, this development does not compel individual actions based on conviction. It does not imply that a support base for other aspirants within the zone is non-existent,” he clarified. “I find it compelling to offer this step-by-step procedure in order to guarantee the integrity of participants and equally secure the harmony of the forum as we look forward to more challenging eventualities in our general struggle.”
The clarification comes after some ADC leaders in the South-South, in a separate statement on Saturday signed by the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Label Oboh, denied that the former governor was endorsed for the 2027 presidency.
Amaechi, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are the leading aspirants for the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket. The trio are seeking to secure the coalition party’s nomination to challenge incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 election.
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