Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has praised the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) for zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, describing the decision as a strategic move aimed at strengthening national unity and preserving political balance in Nigeria.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Umeh said the resolution reached at the party’s convention demonstrated a clear understanding of Nigeria’s delicate power-sharing arrangement between the North and the South.
According to the senator, the zoning arrangement was carefully designed to ensure fairness, political inclusion, and stability within the country’s democratic structure.
“The motion that was moved yesterday was that the presidency is zoned to the South for four years and in 2031 when the South would have completed the four years of the eight years due to the South, automatically the presidency should revert to the North,” Umeh stated.
He noted that issues surrounding rotational leadership remained highly sensitive in Nigeria’s political environment and should not be ignored by political parties seeking national acceptance.
“That is how you preserve national unity. You cannot pretend that people are very sensitive to these things. NDC was strategic enough to reason in that direction,” he added.
Umeh disclosed that delegates at the convention overwhelmingly supported the zoning proposal, describing the decision as a reflection of political maturity and consensus within the party.
The lawmaker also addressed the reported presidential ambition of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi under the platform of the NDC.
According to him, Obi had long indicated his willingness to serve only a single four-year term if elected president in 2027.
“Mr. Obi, for example, started a long time ago to say that he will spend only four years and give way. He knows that he cannot do a second term because Tinubu is already doing four years for the South,” Umeh said.
He explained that the NDC’s decision was influenced by the belief that the South should complete what the party considers the remaining four years of the region’s expected eight-year tenure in power.
“So, that sense of reason prevailed in the NDC. The NDC decided to zone the presidency to the South for the remaining four years of the eight-year term due to Southern Nigeria,” he stated.
Responding to concerns about whether Peter Obi would truly step down after one term if elected, Umeh expressed confidence that the former Anambra State governor would honour his pledge.
“Assuming Nigerians vote for him and he wins, Peter Obi will leave after four years.
”In fact, in my discussions with him, he has already started making his plans on how to deliver his promises to Nigerians within four years,” the senator said.
Umeh also argued that serving only one term would not be unprecedented in global politics, citing former South African President Nelson Mandela as an example of a leader who voluntarily left office after a single term.
“Don’t forget that a noble man like Nelson Mandela did only four years and he left. So, if Peter Obi leaves after four years, he will not be the first person,” he added.
The senator’s remarks come amid growing political discussions and early alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political parties already positioning themselves for what is expected to be another highly contested presidential race.
