Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has urged leaders of the emerging opposition coalition to avoid ethnic or regional sentiments in choosing a presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Frank warned that any attempt to exclude any region from contesting the coalition’s presidential ticket would jeopardize the credibility and unity of the movement.

“The coalition must remain focused on its goal. Excluding any region from participating in the presidential primaries would amount to a stillbirth for the movement,” Frank stated on Monday.

He stressed that Nigerians are yearning for a competent and compassionate leader, not a candidate foisted based on ethnic or regional calculations.

“Nigeria needs a president for all Nigerians, not a president for northern or southern Nigeria,” Frank said.

“We need a president that will help tackle and solve the nation’s myriad challenges—political, social, and economic—such as insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and our deteriorating health and education systems.”

According to the Bayelsa-born political activist, the next president can emerge from any part of the country, provided the person is competent and acceptable to the generality of Nigerians.

“For 2027, the president can come from anywhere—north, south, east, or west,” he asserted.

“If a Northern or Southern candidate is popular enough for Nigerians to vote for him across board, let him emerge as president.”

Frank criticized those insisting that only a Southern candidate should fly the coalition’s flag in 2027, describing such calls as divisive and counterproductive.

“Those saying that the South alone must produce presidential candidates for 2027 should perish the thought,” he said.

“Their utterances cast members of the coalition from the remaining five geopolitical zones as mere tools to attain the presidency.”

He called on the new leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party the coalition adopted in the past week to be united in their approach.

The coalition adopted the ADC over fears registration of its association as a political party could be derailed.

Former Senate President, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola emerged interim National Chairman and Secretary respectively.

As the momentum shifts to the party, agitation for regional candidates began with former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, former governors of Anambra and Rivers – Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi respectively — indicated their interest to contest.

This has pitted the supporters of the aspirants against one another along regional lines.

But Frank cautioned against regional agitation arguing that, “Democracy is about open contests. If you believe in your popularity, go for the primaries. Let there be free and fair primaries.”

“If a Northern candidate wins, fine. If a Southern candidate wins, equally fine. But let no one impose or exclude,” Frank warned.

Addressing the claim that the South should be allowed to complete its “term” from 2027, Frank rejected the notion, arguing that past presidents from both regions have often been criticized by their own people for underperformance.

“Southerners complained about Jonathan and Obasanjo. Now, Tinubu is in office, and the complaints continue,” he noted.

“Similarly, Northerners also complained that Buhari did little for the region. So how does the regional presidency really benefit the people?”

Frank, who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also urged the coalition to resist any form of ethnic blackmail disguised as an argument for Southern entitlement.

“Everybody in the coalition is equal, and there must be equal opportunities for all. What is paramount is not North or South but who will rescue Nigeria,” he emphasized.

He challenged the claim that the North had monopolized political power since 1999, providing a breakdown of presidential tenures:

“Obasanjo had eight years, Yar’Adua had two years, Jonathan had six years, Buhari had eight years, and Tinubu would have had four years by 2027. That’s 18 years for the South and 10 for the North. So who really has benefited more?”

Frank concluded by warning that any ethnic-driven approach to selecting the coalition’s candidate could lead to a crisis and further polarize the country.

“If we are truly talking about building a better Nigeria, what we should be focused on is delivering a change that benefits all Nigerians—not a North-South argument,” he said.

“Nigerians want a president chosen by all Nigerians, not imposed by region.”