ADC Should Consider Picking A Presidential Candidate From Nigerians In Diaspora -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

The Nigerian political environment no doubt is volatile and unstable. It is constantly in a state of flux as politician keep moving aligning and realigning for their personal and group interests. And as the next electoral circle beckons these realignment has continued unabated making room for manipulations and intrigues. The latest in the political realignment now is the exit of Peter Obi, the former LP presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to newly registered Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

And quite frankly, the departure of Peter Obi from the ADC ticket creates more than a gap—it creates an opportunity to rethink what leadership should look like. If Atiku Abubakar represents political experience, coalition-building, and a strong northern base, then the vice-presidential slot must now carry a different kind of weight: it must embody the promise of a “New Nigeria” based on meritocracy and excellence; a fundamental shift from the old ways towards a brighter global outlook. And that promise cannot be fulfilled by another career politician. It demands a candidate with no political baggage, global credibility, and proven technical competence—someone shaped outside the system, not by it but who has the knowledge of the nation’s challenges and has the tools and willingness to tackle them.

In this regard, I would like to recommend a Nigerian in diaspora not because of I am of the diaspora Nigerians but for its obvious benefit to our dear country. Nigeria’s diaspora contributes billions annually in remittances. Yet politically, it remains underutilized. A diaspora VP changes that equation. It signals: inclusion beyond financial contribution, recognition of global Nigerian talent, a pathway for skills, capital, and governance to converge and it transforms the diaspora from external supporters into internal stakeholders.

Concerning this, I would like to recommend a true professional and a technocrat with strong patriotic fervor. The strongest case is for a diaspora technocrat—someone who has built, led, and competed at the highest global levels, yet remains deeply connected to Nigeria’s future. And like many Nigerians in Diaspora, Dr. Isa Odidi fits that profile precisely. He is not a former minister, not a governor or a product of Nigeria’s entrenched political machinery. Instead, he is a Nigerian-born, globally accomplished pharmaceutical scientist, inventor, and CEO who has spent decades building value in one of the most regulated and competitive industries in the world. And long before diaspora participation became a mainstream talking point, Dr. Odidi was already testing its limits. From Ahmadu Bello University to the University of London, Harvard and the University of Toronto, his academic trajectory reflects both Nigerian roots and global excellence.

In 2007, he ran for president of Nigeria as a dual citizen, challenging the system in court to affirm that Nigerians abroad have the right to participate fully in national politics. He has already confronted and navigated constitutional barriers around dual citizenship. He understands elections not as theory, but as lived experience. He has longstanding credibility within the diaspora community as an advocate—not just a participant. This is not a newcomer to the conversation. It is someone who helped start it. Dr. Odidi’s career aligns directly with the kind of leadership Nigeria says it wants—but rarely selects.

As founder and CEO of Intellipharmaceutics International Inc., he built a company listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. That means operating under constant scrutiny—regulatory, financial, and shareholder-driven. With over 100 patents in drug delivery systems, his work spans abuse-deterrent formulations, extended-release therapies, and scalable pharmaceutical technologies. These are not theoretical innovations—they are developed for real-world regulatory approval and patient use. He has taken a company from concept to commercialization in the U.S. pharmaceutical market—arguably one of the most complex environments globally. Nigeria’s economic transformation depends on replicating exactly this kind of private-sector execution.

This is not a speculative pairing. Dr. Odidi has publicly supported Atiku Abubakar, including during the 2023 campaign, where he contributed to diaspora mobilization efforts. And that there is already ideological alignment. There is already mutual trust. There is already a shared understanding of diaspora engagement as a strategic asset. This is not political convenience—it is continuity.

Undoubtedly, the strength of an Atiku–Odidi ticket lies in contrast, not similarity. Atiku Abubakar brings political experience, national networks, and governance familiarity. Dr. Isa Odidi brings industrial expertise, capital markets fluency, and global credibility. One navigates power structures. The other builds systems that create value. That balance is rare—and necessary.

The Advantage of Never Serving Critics often question candidates without prior government roles. In this case, that absence is the advantage. Dr. Odidi has: no ties to political patronage networks, no history of public office entanglements, no legacy decisions to defend. And instead, his experience comes from operating under: strict regulatory oversight, financial transparency and accountability, performance-driven outcomes.

Just as it is said that Nigeria does not lack good policies but poor implementation strategies, Nigeria does not lack political experience; it lacks execution at scale. A Direct Answer to Structural Problems. Take healthcare—one of Nigeria’s most urgent crises. Rather than broad promises, a technocrat VP offers actionable pathways: scaling local pharmaceutical manufacturing through global partnerships, enabling technology transfer between Nigerian institutions and international firms, strengthening regulatory frameworks to improve drug quality and safety, reducing dependence on medical tourism by building domestic capability. This is not theoretical policymaking—it is domain expertise applied to national challenges.

Some may raise the issue of “No government experience.” But, that is not an issue if you ask me. Running a publicly traded, FDA-regulated pharmaceutical company demands operational rigor, compliance discipline, and strategic execution at a level many public offices never require. And on the issue of “Dual citizenship”, the constitutional debate has already been tested. Participation is not theoretical—it has precedent. Again, some would cite “Low grassroots recognition”. And to me that is not a weakness; it is differentiation. Voters seeking change are not looking for familiarity—they are looking for credibility. Nigerians are tired of grassroots champions holding the electorate hostage with empty promises.

On the whole, I strongly believe that the combination of Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Isa Odidi represents more than balance—it represents a shift in thinking. It is experience paired with innovation, politics paired with technical competence and domestic networks paired with global systems. If the goal is to move beyond recycled leadership, then the solution cannot come from the same pool. Thus, as the exit of Peter Obi closes one path to reform, it opens another—one that leans into diaspora expertise, industrial capability, and execution-driven leadership. Yes, a VP candidate from the diaspora is not a gamble. It is a strategic correction. And in Dr. Isa Odidi, that strategy has a credible, tested, and globally relevant face.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK