The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has stated categorically that ongoing coalition negotiations are not centred on any specific presidential aspirant, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Rather, the talks are focused on forming a robust and inclusive alliance aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s political future.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed widespread speculation that the coalition was a strategic alignment with either Atiku or Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The coalition has nothing to do with either Peter Obi or Atiku,” Abdullahi said. “They are just members like many others. The focus is not on them. And of course, it is within anyone’s right to have political ambitions or to run for any position.”
He acknowledged that while discussions around potential presidential contenders may be rife on social media, these narratives do not reflect the internal conversations taking place within the coalition.
When asked if the party would eventually have to choose between the two prominent politicians, Abdullahi was firm: “The party cannot align with one person and still call itself a party – that’s what happened to most of the other parties in the past. We don’t have a preferred candidate. When the time comes, we’ll follow a democratic process and allow members to decide.”
According to Abdullahi, the ADC is presently focused on strengthening its political structures and increasing its presence across all geopolitical zones of Nigeria, particularly in the North.
“Nobody is talking about a presidential candidate at the moment. Our focus is on growing the party,” he emphasised.
Addressing the party’s strategic moves in northern Nigeria, Abdullahi said a growing number of political leaders in the North, disillusioned with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), are aligning themselves with the ADC-led coalition.
“All the people who were in APC and are not happy with how things are going are in this coalition now,” he noted. “The majority of our leaders are from the North. The North knows it doesn’t want this APC government to continue because of how they’ve been treated.”
He was critical of the APC’s governance in recent years, asserting that the ADC represents the only viable alternative for Nigerians seeking change.
“If you look back at the last two years and the way the government has made life hard, you’ll see that ADC is the only real alternative,” Abdullahi declared.
“The ruling party is punishing the people. ADC wants to free Nigerians from that suffering. No one wants to go through this again for another four years.”
As the 2027 elections draw nearer, speculation continues to swirl around major political figures and potential alliances. Yet, the ADC’s message remains clear: the coalition is about building institutions and a collective vision—not individual ambitions.
