The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Poland, Adekunle Ayoola, has called on political parties, stakeholders and voters to promote fairness, equity and inclusiveness as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Ayoola, in a statement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, said he supports the continuation of the presidency in the Southern part of Nigeria in 2027. According to him, this would maintain the existing political understanding surrounding the rotation of political power between the North and South.
He, however, stressed that rotational presidency is not a constitutional entitlement for any region. Rather, he described it as a political understanding intended to promote balance, inclusion and a sense of belonging among Nigerians.
Ayoola explained that supporting a Southern presidency does not mean political parties should be prevented from choosing candidates from other regions or that Nigerians should be restricted from voting for candidates of their choice.
He said the six geopolitical zones — North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East and South-South — should be part of discussions on power-sharing, alongside political parties, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders.
According to his proposed arrangement, the South should retain the presidency in 2027, after which the political understanding would favour the North in the following cycle. He further suggested that when the presidency subsequently returns to the South, the South-East should receive serious consideration.
Ayoola said the arrangement should not be viewed as a system of entitlement or exclusion. Instead, he argued that it should be used to build trust and strengthen national unity.
He also called on politicians to approach the 2027 political season through dialogue rather than confrontation. He urged political actors to focus on building bridges and reaching consensus instead of deepening divisions.
The APC chieftain maintained that Nigeria’s interests should come before the interests of individual politicians, political parties or regions. He said a fair and broadly accepted political understanding could help strengthen confidence among the different parts of the country.
The debate over power rotation is expected to remain an important issue as political parties and aspirants position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
