The Spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the party belongs to no individual, dismissing rumours of an automatic presidential ticket for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Abdullahi made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday evening.
Following the unveiling, the party, led by its National Chairman, former Senate President David Mark, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, has intensified efforts to strengthen its structures and expand its appeal among the electorate.
Several prominent politicians have since joined the party with presidential ambitions, including former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and, most recently, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. More aspirants are expected to declare their interest in the coming weeks.
However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary dismissed claims that the ADC was being positioned as an “Atiku machinery” to advance the former vice president’s presidential ambition.
“No, it’s absolutely not. Every ADC member knows that. It’s only people looking from the outside that say this.
“Every ADC member knows today that our party does not belong to anybody, and that’s why Peter Obi will come in and that’s why Rotimi Amaechi is there,” Abdullahi stated.
He further argued that the narrative was being peddled by the ruling All Progressives Congress, which he said was attempting to second-guess the ADC’s activities, adding that anyone could secure the party’s ticket.
“It is the ruling party spreading it. You see, they’re trying to second-guess us, trying to gaslight us. And I tell them to mind their business. It’s called voyeurism.
“If Atiku gets the ticket, he gets the ticket. It doesn’t mean that they were right all along. If Atiku gets the ticket, he gets the ticket. If somebody else gets the ticket, he gets it. But what I’m saying is that where we stand today, this ADC does not belong to anybody,” the spokesman stated.
Abdullahi also said the ADC had “one of the fastest growths in Nigeria’s political history,” adding that it had become clear the party was the only “viable option” to defeat the ruling APC during the coming elections