2027: ADC prioritizes clear ideology over presidential candidate amid speculations

As political speculations intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has stated that its current focus is on building a strong ideological foundation rather than endorsing any presidential aspirant.

Despite growing interest in political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, the party’s interim leadership has dismissed reports suggesting it has begun making preferential considerations.

Interim National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, reiterated that the party is not aligned with any presidential hopeful at this stage. Speaking against the backdrop of accusations of partisanship within the party, Mark emphasized that the ADC is committed to providing Nigerians with a distinct political alternative grounded in principle and discipline.

“The ADC has no preferred or favourite presidential aspirant. Our priority is to build a credible platform that resonates with the aspirations of Nigerians,” Mark said. “This party does not belong to any one individual. We must rise now, collectively, to prevent the Nigerian ship from sinking.”

Mark’s comments come after the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, accused the interim leadership of favoring Atiku.

Bolaji Abdullahi, Interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, echoed Mark’s stance during a media briefing on Thursday. Abdullahi clarified that the party is not preoccupied with selecting a candidate at this time but is focused on crafting a coherent and binding manifesto that all aspirants must adopt.

“We are building a party structure capable of disciplining its members. A political party must ensure its candidates adhere strictly to its principles,” Abdullahi stated. “What we are doing differently is developing our manifesto first. The candidate will then be accountable to the party’s vision, not the other way around.”

Abdullahi criticized the common trend in Nigerian politics where candidates shape party manifestos around their personal ambitions, calling it an “aberration.” He emphasized that the ADC will present a transparent candidate selection process aligned with the timeline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The ADC will not pick candidates behind closed doors. We will offer a level playing field to all aspirants in a transparent process that inspires confidence,” he affirmed.

Despite the party’s position, lobbying continues behind the scenes, with reported attempts to broker a ticket pairing Atiku and Obi, positioning Obi as a potential vice-presidential candidate. These moves have been met with strong resistance, especially from Kachikwu.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Kachikwu described such an arrangement as “politically immoral” and a betrayal of southern Nigeria’s claim to the presidency, especially following the eight-year tenure of northern-born President Muhammadu Buhari.

“It is only fair and equitable that the next President comes from the South,” Kachikwu declared. “Any coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu must originate from the South and be rooted in justice.”

He warned against what he described as an orchestrated effort by northern political interests to manipulate the ADC platform through inducements, claiming that some state chairmen were being offered bribes of up to ₦20 million to step down.

“They’re trying to hijack the ADC. But even if they succeed in buying people out, our constitution will not permit outsiders to take over those positions,” Kachikwu said.

He accused Atiku of engineering the alleged scheme, referencing past political conflicts involving former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

“Atiku has a history of undermining Presidents he served under. He tried to stop Obasanjo from a second term and frustrated Jonathan’s efforts. This is not about Nigeria; it’s about one man’s ambition,” Kachikwu alleged.

Challenging Atiku directly, he said, “If Atiku believes in equity, he should publicly endorse a southern candidate and step aside. But we all know he won’t.”

Kachikwu concluded by declaring the ADC is “not for sale” and warned political actors to focus on resolving their internal party crises rather than destabilizing others.

“Our fight is not their fight. Let them return to their parties and fix what is broken. We’re here to build a new kind of politics, one with vision, discipline, and equity,” he said.

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