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By Oscar Okhifo
Media mogul Dele Momodu has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to northern Nigeria, saying a northern candidate is key to defeating President Bola Tinubu.
The Ovation magazine publisher also declared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his preferred choice for the party’s ticket.
Speaking on Wednesday on The Morning Show, a talk show aired on Arise TV in Lagos, Momodu said the ADC must adopt a well-coordinated strategy to defeat the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress in 2027, stressing that strong organization and internal consensus are crucial for victory.
Momodu noted that the ADC already has experienced contenders from previous elections and should not “reinvent the wheel.”
Citing the strategies that led to Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 victory, he argued that elections are won through structure and coalition-building rather than sentiment.
“We have in the ADC today at least two of the leading contestants from the last election. So you do not need to reinvent the wheel. What it takes to win an election is not just the crowd, noise, ideas, or how brilliant you are,” he said.
Momodu also referenced electoral outcomes in the United States and Liberia, noting that perceived disadvantages such as age do not necessarily determine electoral success.
“You would remember that Joe Biden was removed from the radar by the Democrats in America. They said he was old and senile. Then the Democrats brought Kamala Harris. She raised a lot of money for the campaign. A lot of us really liked her. But at the end of the day, she could not defeat Donald Trump,” he said.
He added, “Everything, including old age, was said against Donald Trump, but he defeated Kamala.
“In Liberia, where we have Joseph Boakai, the old man was able to take out George Weah, the biggest and most famous Liberian alive.”
When asked to name his preferred presidential aspirant in the ADC, Momodu openly declared Atiku Abubakar as his choice.
“My preference is Atiku. I have never minced words on that,” he said.
He urged the ADC to focus on northern Nigeria, particularly areas where there is strong disaffection toward the APC.
“In matters of strategy, ADC must go to a part of the country where there are the most disgruntled people against the APC. The people who worked for Tinubu to become president were partly the Buhari gang. Today, they are angry and disappointed that they have been abandoned,” Momodu said.
Highlighting opportunities in key northern states, he noted: “Nasir el-Rufai is languishing in detention, Abubakar Malami is being harassed up and down. So that team is waiting for ADC to capture.
“When you go in that direction, you have Atiku, Aminu Tambuwal, el-Rufai, and others. Let ADC go all out to capture.
” If you pick Atiku, he comes from the North-East, where the APC currently has the vice-president. But I am sure the North-East, which is a major catchment area, would be very happy to have a president.”
He emphasized that zoning the ADC presidential ticket to the North-East, Atiku’s region, would be strategic, adding that the area has not produced a president since Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Observers note that Momodu’s position appears to prioritize electoral strategy over the widely respected North-South zoning arrangement, which aims to maintain balance, peaceful coexistence, and fairness in presidential succession.
Many believe that, traditionally, the presidency should rotate between the North and South, but Momodu seems more focused on winning the election than adhering to this “gentleman’s agreement.”
The weeks and months ahead are expected to reveal more developments in the evolving political landscape.