2027: We Are Concerned Atiku, Obi May Not Agree To Team Up – ADC

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has expressed concern that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi may not reach an agreement to run together on the party’s platform in the 2027 elections.

Abdullahi made the remark on Friday during an interview on Arise News ‘The Morning Show’, stressing that while the potential alliance was important, the ADC’s strategy extends beyond the two high-profile opposition figures.

“It is a challenge, a concern to us that Atiku and Obi may not choose to run together,” he stated.
“But we have maintained that it is not just about Atiku and Peter Obi. Nobody in the ADC is talking about who the presidential candidate will be. We are still establishing our name across the country, but we know it is an issue we still have to deal with.”

He explained that the ADC will pursue a consensus model, but if agreement cannot be reached, the party will allow all interested aspirants to contest the presidential ticket.

“The most important thing at this time is that we will engineer a consensus, and if we are not able to do that, we allow everyone to contest. It’s not just about Atiku and Peter Obi; there are others who are interested in running for president. It’s an option, but there are several options we are looking at,” Abdullahi said.

The spokesperson’s comments came in reaction to discussions around the calibre of aspirants within the opposition party, and who would decide to drop their ambitions for the other, given that all were positioning themselves for the 2027 race.

Abdullahi also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of attempting to weaken opposition parties through strategic destabilisation. He argued that defections from other opposition parties to the APC were driven by fear rather than genuine support for the ruling party.

“The ruling party wants to create a mindset of inevitability—that no one would win except them,” he said.

“As recently as 2001, the PDP controlled most of the states; they even rigged elections to win. These governors going into the APC are not going there because they are happy about what is going on. They are pandering towards vulnerability and looking for an easy way out. It takes courage and character to join an opposition party as a ruling governor, and that is what they lack.”

He further claimed that the ADC has overtaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in relevance within the opposition space, noting that APC strategies to destabilise rival parties have pushed many into the ADC.

“Currently, we have overtaken PDP,” Abdullahi said.

“The ruling APC has done everything to destabilise opposition parties, and it is that destabilisation that has driven people to join the ADC.”