The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed concern that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are not working together as the country moves towards the 2027 general election.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the lack of collaboration between the two political figures remained a challenge for opposition parties seeking to form a united front.
“I may not describe the situation as the greatest threat to democracy at the moment,” he said. “But is it a conundrum? Yes. Is it a challenge? Yes. Is it something we are concerned about? Yes.”
Abdullahi said the party was not currently focused on choosing a presidential candidate but was instead working to strengthen its structures across the country.
“No one in the ADC is discussing who the presidential candidate will be,” he noted. “We have a lot of work to do to build our presence and be prepared to contest elections in all 36 states and the FCT.”
He added that conversations about alliances were not limited to Atiku and Obi, saying other potential aspirants were also showing interest.
“It’s not a straight contest between Atiku and Peter Obi,” he said. “There are others who may contest, and we are exploring different options, including partnerships with other political parties to form a strong coalition.”
Earlier this month, Obi said the proposed ADC-led coalition was stalling because key issues such as zoning and the rotation of leadership positions had not been resolved. While Obi has yet to formally join the party, Atiku has already obtained his membership card.
Abdullahi urged Obi to decide on joining the ADC, noting that the party had not yet adopted any zoning formula.
