On 17 November 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the full timetable for the 2027 General Elections. Under that schedule, political party primaries and congresses will hold between 1 July and 30 September 2026.This means every presidential hopeful has roughly eight months from today to build the internal political structures needed to win their party’s presidential ticket. However, the political clock is ticking even faster than many realise.
The National Assembly is proposing amendments to the Electoral Act to move the presidential and governorship elections to November 2026 — six months earlier than the traditional February/March timetable. If that amendment is passed, Nigeria will be in a presidential election cycle in less than 12 months.
It is in this environment that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President (1999–2027), made his bold move on 24 November 2025 by joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) — the party adopted by the coalition of opposition parties for the 2027 elections.
And today, 27 November 2025, the Waziri Adamawa stormed Jalingo, Taraba State, for the grand unveiling of the ADC State Secretariat. Anyone who watched the event saw more than a ceremony — it was a show of force and a bold statement of intent.Sources indicate that Atiku is set to consolidate massively across the North East in the coming days.
This is what serious political mobilisation looks like.Yet, while all this is happening, the South East remains unusually quiet.
THE SOUTH EAST MUST STOP WATCHING AND START ACTING
After Atiku’s move to the ADC, I issued a public statement:commending his decision, and urging Mr Peter Obi to join the ADC so the opposition can unite for a credible contest. Shockingly, some of our brothers immediately began quarrelling about who would be the candidate between Obi and Atiku, even when Mr Obi has not even joined the ADC.This level of unseriousness shows why the region continues to lose political relevance.
Our leader, Okwute Ndi Igbo, has often spoken about the relationship between politics and money. But the fact remains that serious politics anywhere in the world requires serious funding.The entertaining slogan “I don’t give shishi” is not a viable political doctrine for anyone seeking to win a presidential election.
Let us face the realities:Atiku arrived Jalingo today with a full retinue of aides, associates and allies. A long convoy accompanied him — and every vehicle was fuelled.The event venue was costly.
The new ADC Secretariat in Taraba cost money.Politics requires structure. Structure requires organisation. Organisation requires funding.Global precedents confirm this, United States (2024 Presidential Election):According to OpenSecrets, Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign committee and affiliated groups spent about US$1.47 billion.United Kingdom (2024 General Election): According to the UK Electoral Commission:Total regulated party spending: £68.6 millionLabour Party spent: £30,084,081Conservatives spent: £23,874,892Labour outspent the Conservatives by £6.2 million — nearly 30% more. Across the world, elections are won with structure and resources.
THE SOUTH EAST POLITICAL VACUUM IS ALARMING
Today, almost every major political actor in the South East has:either joined the APC, oraligned with the Asiwaju political structure.Nobody wants to embark on another emotion-driven, structureless, directionless political journey. The recent Anambra 2025 governorship election is a warning signal:The combined opposition votes were not up to 35% of the votes received by the Asiwaju-backed Governor Soludo. In Agulu, even the APC defeated both the Labour Party and ADC combined.This collapse happened because Labour Party failed to show leadership to Valentine Ozigbo, John Nwosu and Muoghalu. In response to that monumental failure, our brother, Mr Peter Obi, said that he is now in the “Champions League.” But the truth must be told:you cannot play in the Champions League if you are relegated in your local league. National political success begins with dominance at home.
THE SOUTH EAST MUST RECOGNISE ITS TRUE HISTORICAL ALLY
If the South East truly wants political relevance, it must learn from history and stop repeating the same strategic mistakes. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik), the greatest Igbo political figure of his era, understood the realities of Nigerian politics.When confronted with a decisive choice during the First Republic, Zik weighed his options before making the informed and strategic decision to align with the North, and not with Awolowo.He understood that politics is not built on emotion, rhetoric, or shared grievances.It is built on interests, leverage, numbers and stability. When the nation plunged into crisis, Awolowo — the South West’s foremost political strategist — made the same calculation. He too had a choice: align with Ojukwu, or align with Gowon. Awolowo aligned with Gowon, because he understood where national power resided. Two brilliant political minds — Zik and Awolowo — arrived at the same conclusion at different historical moments:The North has always been the centre of political gravity in Nigeria. Any region seeking genuine relevance must engage it strategically. The South West knows this. The South South knows this. It is only the South East that continues to entertain political illusions. As for the present, I personally do not believe there is anything “Southern” about the current Asiwaju-led government. It is a South West–dominated political arrangement, supported by longstanding Northern alliances. It does not, in any real sense, represent Southern unity. The South East must wake up.Political alliances are built on strategic realities, not sentiment.
THE OPPOSITION MUST GET SERIOUS — NOW
Atiku Abubakar has shown seriousness.Northern opposition blocs have shown seriousness. Structures in the North East, North West and North Central are already mobilising. Yet the South East — the region that claims it wants change the most — is still analysing, delaying, debating, and philosophising. This is the time to Mobilise resources, open campaign offices across the five South East states, Deploy coordinators and grassroots organisers, Engage the business community, Forge a unified political direction, Nigerians who desire change will contribute funds.But as an Igbo adage reminds us:“onye nsị na-agụ na-eburu ụzọ” — the man who feels the urge to use the toilet must be the one to run ahead. In essence, those who most desire change must lead the charge.
WE CANNOT WAIT FOR POWER ON A PLATTER — THIS IS THE TIME TO WORK
The South East Patriots, under my leadership, has endorsed an Atiku/Obi ticket as the most credible route to national recovery in 2027. But an endorsement is not victory. Power is not handed to anyone on a platter.
The ADC Anambra State Secretariat needs a minimum of ₦2 million just to secure a suitable office. A lot more is required to furnish it, equip, run and build structures down to the Ward level, where elections are won.
It would be morally wrong — even politically irresponsible — to fold our arms while others invest their resources, build structures, mobilise support, and then expect to walk in later with a ticket-entitlement mentality.
If we want influence, we must contribute. If we want relevance, we must organise. If we want victory, we must work. Everyone who truly desires change must join the ADC, commit to the work, contribute funds, and support grassroots mobilisation.
The alternative is simple and shameful, if the South East refuses to participate and invest now, then we might as well ask that Asiwaju be sworn in unopposed, instead of wasting human lives, time, and financial resources pretending to contest an election we refused to prepare for.This is the time to work.This is the time to organise.This is the time to get serious.
FINAL WORD
Nigeria is entering a compressed electoral cycle:Primaries begin July 2026. If the NASS amendment succeeds, the presidential election may hold by November 2026 — barely a year from today.This is not a time for emotional politics, wishful thinking, or social-media activism.This is a time for structure,funding,organisation,discipline, and strategic alignment. The North is mobilising.The South West is consolidating.The South South is positioning.
Only the South East is still debating philosophy while others are building structures.The South East must act immediately and decisively.
