2027: Why Atiku-Obi ticket may not work — ADC

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has explained why it may be difficult for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, to work together ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Friday, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi acknowledged that the lack of collaboration between the two political heavyweights poses a challenge, though he stopped short of describing it as a threat to democracy.

“I may not describe the situation in such superlative terms to say that it’s the greatest threat to democracy at the moment. But is it a conundrum? Yes. Is it a challenge? Yes. Is it something we are concerned about? Yes,” Abdullahi said.

He stressed that the ADC is not currently discussing presidential tickets, noting that the party’s immediate focus is on strengthening its structures nationwide.

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“Nobody in the ADC at this time is having conversations about who the presidential candidates will be.

“We have so much work to do — to establish our real presence and be in a position to contest elections in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.”

Abdullahi reiterated that the 2027 presidential race within the ADC is not limited to Atiku and Obi, adding that several other aspirants have shown interest.

“It’s not just about Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Nobody in the ADC at this time is discussing who the presidential candidates will be,” he said.

According to him, the party’s priority over the past few months has been building a strong grassroots presence, while acknowledging that the issue of candidate selection will eventually need to be addressed.

“When we get to that point, we will try to engineer a consensus. Consensus is an option for us, but if we are unable to reach one, then we may open it up for everyone to contest,” Abdullahi said.

He added that the ADC is also engaging with other political parties in discussions aimed at forming a formidable coalition ahead of the elections.

“It’s not a central case between Atiku and Peter Obi. There are other options we are looking at, even within other political parties, as we explore how best to build a strong coalition and see what is possible,” he said.

Earlier this month, Obi had said the ADC-led coalition was struggling because key issues such as zoning and rotation of major offices had not been resolved.

While Obi is yet to formally register as a member of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar has already picked up his membership card.

Abdullahi had previously urged Obi to make a decision on joining the party, noting that the ADC is not yet at the stage of adopting zoning arrangements.

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