Rotimi Amaechi, African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant for 2027, says he would scrap Nigeria’s indigeneship and federal character policies if elected president, arguing that they entrench division and undermine merit.
Speaking on his vision for national unity, Amaechi described the current system as a barrier to equal opportunity. “If I become president, I’d abolish indigeneship and federal character,” he said. “We cannot build a united country when your access to jobs, schools, and opportunities depends on where your grandfather comes from.”
Under Nigeria’s constitution, federal character mandates that appointments and admissions reflect the country’s ethnic and geographic diversity. Indigeneship determines who qualifies as a “son of the soil” for scholarships, jobs, and political positions in a state. Critics say the policies were designed to ensure inclusion after the civil war, but have since been abused to exclude non-indigenes and promote mediocrity.
Amaechi argued that the focus should shift to citizenship and merit. “Every Nigerian is a Nigerian. If you are qualified, you should be able to work, live, and contest anywhere in this country without being told you are a settler,” he said. He added that abolishing the policies would encourage internal migration, investment, and national integration.
The proposal is likely to spark debate. Supporters say indigeneship and federal character have become tools for discrimination, especially against Nigerians living outside their states of origin. They argue that merit-based competition would improve public service and reduce ethnic tension.
Opponents warn that removing the policies without strong safeguards could marginalize minority groups and states with fewer resources. They contend that federal character remains necessary to prevent domination by a few regions in federal appointments and admissions.
Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and Rivers State governor, has positioned himself as a reform-minded candidate within the ADC. In the same round of interviews, he rejected suggestions that he would run as vice president, insisting he bought the presidential form to contest for the top job…See More
