A political advocacy group, Peter Obi Our President (PETOOP), on Saturday intensified pressure on opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, demanding that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) zone its presidential ticket to the South while calling for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over alleged bias.
Addressing a press conference in Jos, the National Convener of the group, Magnus Oraka, warned that Nigeria’s democratic future hinges on equity, credible elections, and strict adherence to the principle of political justice.
Oraka said the ADC risks political irrelevance if it fields a Northern candidate, arguing that such a move would fracture opposition votes in the North and ultimately pave the way for an easy victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“The pathway to a competitive election lies in equity. Zoning the ticket to the South is not just moral, it is strategic,” he stated,
While cautioning that failure to adopt a Southern candidate would amount to “handing over victory on a silver platter” to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group also tackled former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent comments on power rotation, insisting that historical records from Nigeria’s independence in 1960 show the North has held power longer than the South.
Oraka urged Atiku to drop his presidential ambition, describing his continued bids as counterproductive to national cohesion and detrimental to opposition chances.
On the electoral process, PETOOP accused INEC under Amupitan of abandoning neutrality and meddling in the internal affairs of political parties, particularly the ADC.
The group alleged that the commission’s actions, including its stance on party leadership disputes, signal a dangerous drift into partisanship.
“A partisan electoral umpire is a threat to democracy,” Oraka declared, adding that Nigerians would resist any attempt to undermine the integrity of future elections.
Citing a controversial statement allegedly linked to the INEC chairman, the group said such conduct raises serious doubts about the commission’s ability to conduct free, fair, and credible polls.
PETOOP, therefore, demanded Amupitan’s immediate resignation, urging President Bola Tinubu to remove him if he fails to step down, or for the National Assembly to intervene in line with its constitutional mandate.
The group reaffirmed its resolve to mobilise citizens and civil society actors to safeguard electoral integrity, insisting that Nigeria cannot afford a compromised umpire as it approaches another critical election cycle.
