Political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has cautioned leaders of the emerging political coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 to remain focused on competence and national unity rather than regional sentiments.
In a statement on Monday, Frank warned that calls by some coalition members for the 2027 presidential ticket to be zoned exclusively to the South could lead to division and undermine the coalition’s mission.
He stressed that excluding any region from the presidential contest would destroy the coalition’s credibility and alienate potential supporters across the country.
“The coalition would be dead on arrival if its leaders attempt to shut out any region in selecting a presidential candidate,” Frank said.
Commending the coalition leaders for their efforts so far, Frank urged them not to be distracted by “selfish agitation” capable of derailing their objective of presenting a formidable opposition and winning the 2027 election.
According to the Bayelsa-born activist, Nigeria urgently needs a competent and compassionate leader who can address the country’s pressing political, social, and economic challenges — including insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and a failing health and education system.
“Whether North or South, Nigeria needs a president for all Nigerians, not a regional president,” Frank stated. “What matters is a candidate with the capacity to lead, not where they come from.”
He argued that any candidate who enjoys broad national appeal should be allowed to contest, emphasizing that democracy requires open and credible primaries.
“If a Southern or Northern candidate is popular and competent enough to win votes nationwide, let that person emerge. Let the people decide,” he said.
Frank also dismissed claims that the South must complete a supposed remaining four-year tenure, pointing out that past presidents from both regions were often criticized by their own people.
“Obasanjo and Jonathan were both criticized by Southerners. Northerners also complained about Buhari’s tenure. Regional leadership has never guaranteed regional development,” he added.
The activist, who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, emphasized that the coalition must resist any form of ethnic blackmail disguised as a call for a Southern presidency.
“Everyone in the coalition is equal. The focus should be on leadership, not ethnicity or religion,” he said.
Frank also highlighted the South’s extended stay in power since the return to democracy in 1999, noting that by 2027, Southern Nigeria would have produced presidents for 18 years, compared to the North’s 10.
He called on the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a key party in the coalition, to ensure transparent, inclusive, and credible primaries without zoning.
“If we are truly committed to a better Nigeria, then what we need is a president elected by the generality of Nigerians based on competence, not regional rotation,” he said.
