The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has stated that it is not worried about multiple politicians showing interest in the party’s ticket for the 2027 presidential election.
The spokesperson for the coalition-backed ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it is normal for politicians to have ambitions and show interest in the party’s ticket.
He, however, disagreed with submissions in certain quarters that the ambition of its members and the struggle to get the single presidential ticket may tear the party apart.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Lunchtime Politics’, Abdullahi said the ADC would impose its authority to regulate the ambitions of individual members.
“It’s just politicians doing what politicians will do. Every politician has an ambition in one way or the other, but what is important is for the party to be able to impose its authority, to regulate or motivate the ambitions of individual members. I mean, even in conceptual terms, that’s what political parties are meant to do, to aggregate interest, to the ambitions. So we don’t have any problems with anybody coming to say I want to be president. I want to be this or that. That’s not the problem,” the ADC spokesperson said.
Naijaonpoint reports that following the formal adoption of the ADC by the coalition for the 2027 polls, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, have openly declared their interest in the party’s ticket while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also believed to be eying the ticket, though he is yet to make an open declaration like others.
Strong Party
Speaking further during the interview, Abdullahi said the ADC’s focus is to build a strong party that is transparent enough in its operations to provide equal opportunities for every member.
He said, “The important thing is that we are able to build a party that is strong, that is strong enough, and able to impose his authority on individual members that is one two build a party that is transparently just and gives opportunity to everyone. So, once you are able to give opportunity to everyone, then you also increase your own authorisation level and be able to discipline your membership.”