A prominent political analyst has warned that both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) could face defeat in the 2027 presidential election for neglecting the North Central region in their power-sharing decisions.
This caution came during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
Professor K’tso Nghargbu, a respected scholar and voice of North Central stakeholders, expressed concern that neglecting the entire northern region, especially the North Central zone, might result in the two dominant parties losing crucial votes in next year’s election.
While the APC has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its sole candidate, the PDP has designated its presidential ticket to the southern part of the country. Meanwhile, influential parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have yet to finalize their zoning or candidacy strategies.
Professor Nghargbu said that the North Central region, despite never having produced a civilian president since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, possesses the resources and leadership capacity to claim the presidency if national consensus allows. He described this area as a reservoir of talent and human capital often overlooked in political negotiations.
He added that when the North is respected in power arrangements, it unites and collectively decides on its candidate. The current omission breaks this tradition, undermining peace, justice, and equitable governance.
On the prospects of the ADC, he noted confidently,
Any party that fails to allocate its presidential ticket to the North, and particularly to North Central, puts itself at risk of losing the support of voters from that area. If the African Democratic Congress fields a candidate from the North and the North votes as a bloc, it stands a strong chance of winning the 2027 election. Our demand is rooted in the principles of good governance, which thrive on fairness and inclusivity. The North Central region has been excluded from the presidency for over six decades, despite its contributions to the nation’s growth. This is why it deserves serious consideration in the forthcoming elections – Prof Nghargbu
The ruling and main opposition parties are concentrating their efforts on the South, creating an opportunity for smaller parties to engage voters in the North Central region more meaningfully. The election outcome will depend on how well political groups respond to calls for fairness and inclusion across Nigeria’s diverse regions. Meanwhile, attention turns to the remaining parties as they finalize their decisions on presidential candidate zoning.
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