The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned its supporters against adopting a “must-be-my-candidate” mindset, warning that such divisive loyalty could jeopardise the party’s prospects in the 2027 general elections.
The warning was issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, during a virtual programme titled ‘ADC Coalition Hours’ held yesterday.
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Abdullahi urged members to rally behind all presidential aspirants collectively rather than displaying rigid allegiance to individual contenders. He emphasised that unity remains essential to bolstering the party’s bid for the presidency.
In July 2025, the ADC was adopted as the platform for a broad opposition coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 polls.
Since then, under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, the party has focused on rebuilding its structures nationwide and earning the confidence of Nigerians.
The party has attracted several high-profile figures in recent months. Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi joined in July 2025, followed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in November, and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi on 31 December.
All three have signalled their intention to seek the ADC’s presidential ticket.
Further aspirants are expected to declare their interest in the coming weeks, setting the stage for a potentially competitive primary contest.
Tensions have already emerged among supporters over the issue of zoning. Many backers of Peter Obi are advocating for the ticket to be zoned to the South, while a significant number of Atiku Abubakar’s supporters favour an open, merit-based contest without regional restrictions.
Addressing these divisions, Abdullahi revealed that he had held discussions with key coalition stakeholders to promote harmony and shared purpose.
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“I spent time talking to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, who have indicated interest in vying for the presidential ticket of our party, as well as the likes of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to strengthen our party and unite it,” he said.
He added: “The general consensus is that we have a job to do to make this country a better place. Our leaders are all aware of the task ahead, and every one of them is committed to ensuring that we win this election.”
Abdullahi reiterated the party’s determination to maintain focus and collective commitment, stressing that internal cohesion would be critical to challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) successfully in 2027.
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