ADC zoning breach criticism from Osita Okechukwu as APC chieftain warns Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy could undermine Nigeria’s rotational presidency
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Congress, Osita Okechukwu has criticised the African Democratic Congress over what he described as a breach of Nigeria’s zoning convention following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.
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ADC faces backlash over zoning violation claims was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, where Okechukwu argued that the zoning arrangement has remained central to national cohesion, fairness, and political stability since the start of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Okechukwu, a former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, said the principle of rotational presidency has been widely accepted by major political parties and a large segment of the Nigerian electorate, and warned that ignoring it could deepen political tensions.
He further described the ADC’s decision as “political opportunism”, insisting that it risks reopening old regional divisions and undermining national unity at a sensitive time for the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges make political balance even more important, arguing that leadership decisions should prioritise cohesion over individual ambition.
The APC chieftain maintained that the zoning principle remains a “democratic stabiliser” that should not be discarded, adding that history would judge political actors based on their adherence to national consensus rather than campaign rhetoric.
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The remarks add to ongoing debate within Nigeria’s political space over zoning, rotation, and the future structure of presidential power-sharing ahead of future elections.
