Atiku sidelined again as ADA picks Presidential Flagbearer

A significant crisis is emerging within Atiku Abubakar’s faction in light of recent developments involving influential politicians from the newly established political party, All Democratic Alliance.

These developments indicate a deliberate effort to exclude the former vice president from the role of Presidential Flagbearer.

The National Opposition Coalition Group, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the registration of a new political party—the All Democratic Alliance.

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The application, dated June 19, was acknowledged by INEC on Friday, signalling the coalition’s determination to float a new platform instead of aligning with any existing political party.

Despite the registration move, underground games have begun, with some powerful politicians, notably former APC members, already plotting to sideline Atiku as their presidential flag bearer, citing the risk of losing the election should Atiku pick the ticket due to his records.

Sources within the party, who requested anonymity, have indicated that there are four names under consideration for the position of president and his vice-presidential running mates; however, the former vice president is not among those considered for these roles.

“It can’t be Atiku, they are afraid of losing the election if Atiku should be their flagbearer. The funniest point is that some of Atiku’s allies are also rooting for another person, a popular candidate that can actualize the dream of the party.

“Major problem now is who’s going to announce the names and who those names without Atiku are. Two powerful politicians from South and North are likely to be picked; they are the people’s choice as far as this party is concerned,” the source said.

The formation of ADA, backed by some other key political heavyweights, including former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo, seeks to capitalise on mounting public dissatisfaction and political realignments to stop President Bola Tinubu at the next poll.

Meanwhile, Nollywood veteran and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has stated that the presidential ticket of the newly formed All Democratic Alliance (ADA) will be open to aspirants from all geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, made this known during an appearance on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme on Channels Television.

Addressing concerns about zoning and power rotation, Okonkwo warned against relying on gentlemen’s agreements or informal promises within party ranks.

“Politicians have shown that it is very difficult to trust them even when the person promises one term. So, if somebody has taken a term from the South and it is in the middle of the game and the person is not performing like Tinubu, you are going to get into a problem,” he explained.

He continued: “If you get another Southerner, he is going to stay there for eight years. The North will say no, this is injustice. Nobody will allow Tinubu to continue because he is not performing. So, the best is to throw it open. When the best comes in, every other person will support him and the person will promise to do four years.”

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