The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has distanced itself from the growing narrative suggesting that its ongoing coalition efforts are designed to favour any individual candidate, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
According to the party, the coalition is focused on national interest, not personal ambition.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the ADC’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, clarified that no individual, no matter how prominent, can become the centrepiece of a credible political coalition.
“The coalition has nothing to do with either Peter Obi or Atiku. 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,” Abdullahi said.
The comment comes amid growing pressure from supporters of Peter Obi, who insist that he be adopted as the consensus candidate of the party ahead of 2027. Obi’s backers argue that his performance in the 2023 presidential election—where he placed third and dominated youth and urban votes—makes him the natural choice for 2027. However, Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer in 2023 and a six-time presidential contender, is also reportedly considering another run, with political insiders suggesting he retains a strong hold on the PDP structure and could again secure the ticket.
Abdullahi, however, warned against centring the coalition around individuals, saying such a move had led to the collapse of past political alliances.
“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,” he said. “We don’t have a preferred candidate. When the time comes, we’ll follow a democratic process and allow members to decide.”
He emphasised that the coalition’s current focus is on strengthening internal structures, especially in regions where the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is perceived to have failed.
“All the people who were in APC and are not happy with how things are going are in this coalition now. 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,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that the ADC has become a political home for many disillusioned northern politicians who feel alienated under the current administration, and positioned the party as a viable alternative to the APC and PDP.
“Nobody is talking about a presidential candidate at the moment. Our focus is on growing the party,” he said.