A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uche Nwosu, has said the southern region should be allowed to complete its eight years in the presidency.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, Nwosu, a former chief of staff to the Imo State government, argued that it would be unfair for power to return to the north in 2027.
He emphasized that just as former President Muhammadu Buhari, from the north, completed two terms, the south should also be allowed to do the same.
“It is unfair and unjust to say power should return to the north in 2027. I am fully in support of the south completing its eight years,” Nwosu said. “President Bola Tinubu is from the south, so we should not be discussing a return of power to the north yet.”
Commenting on calls for the presidency to shift to the South-East, Nwosu said the region should support President Tinubu to complete his term first.
On the performance of the Tinubu administration, Nwosu said it was too early to judge, urging Nigerians to be patient. He noted that Tinubu had already achieved progress in areas like infrastructure and economic development and was working hard to tackle economic challenges and food insecurity.
Speaking on the recent efforts by opposition figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, Nwosu said he was not worried.
He noted that although coalitions are good for democracy, he doubted the opposition leaders could unite, given their personal ambitions and differing interests.
Nwosu also called on the federal and state governments to focus on addressing the root causes of insecurity by deploying more security personnel to affected areas.
Addressing concerns about the growing number of defections to the APC, Nwosu dismissed fears of Nigeria becoming a one-party state. He pointed out that the opposition, particularly the PDP, is currently in disarray, struggling with internal leadership crises.
