BREAKING: Obi, El-Rufai plotting new coalition as Atiku hijacks ADC

There are increasing indications that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is experiencing internal challenges, as many of its original promoters are reportedly growing hesitant. This development has the potential to negatively impact the party’s standing in the upcoming 2027 elections.

Central to the discord is the intention of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to secure the party’s presidential nomination for the 2027 election.

Prominent members of the ADC, including Nasir El-Rufai, have expressed discomfort regarding Atiku Abubakar’s firm commitment to running for president under the party’s banner.

Furthermore, it has been reported that El-Rufai, who previously advocated for a southern presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, continues to insist that the presidency should remain in the South until 2031. Atiku’s ambitions are perceived as undermining the party’s unity as a coalition platform, with many stakeholders viewing his membership in the ADC as primarily focused on fulfilling his personal aspirations for the 2027 presidency.

At this time, it remains unclear which candidate Nasir El-Rufai will endorse for the 2027 presidential election; however, sources close to the party indicate that he has firmly stated he will support only a candidate from the South. Currently, Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate from the 2023 elections, have emerged as potential southern aspirants for the presidency in 2027.

A member of the party’s interim management team, who requested anonymity while speaking to BusinessDay in Abuja, expressed concerns that the aspirations of the former Vice President could significantly weaken the party unless he agrees to reconsider his position.

At the centre of the disagreement is the plan by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to run for the 2027 presidential election on the ticket of the party.

According to BusinessDay, key figures in the party, including Nasir El-Rufai, are not comfortable with Atiku Abubakar’s insistence on running for president in 2027 on the party’s platform.

It was further gathered that El-Rufai, who championed a southern presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has continued to insist that the presidency must remain in the South until 2031.

But Atiku’s ambition has continued to weaken the party as a coalition platform.

Many are now seeing his membership of the ADC as solely to pursue his personal ambition of actualising his 2027 presidential ambition.

It was not immediately clear who Nasir El-Rufai, the former Kaduna State governor, is backing for the 2027 presidential election, but it was gathered from sources close to the party that he has made it clear that he will only back a candidate from the South for the 2027 presidential election.

So far, Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State governor, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, are the aspirants from the South who have indicated their interests in the 2027 presidency.

A member of the party’s interim management team, who spoke to BusinessDay in Abuja on condition of anonymity, lamented that the “ambition of the former vice president may weaken the party, unless he agrees to back down.”

“Yes, everybody is enthusiastic about the new coalition and the opportunity it will give Nigerians to elect leaders of their choice in 2027, but the plans by Atiku Abubakar to contest may ruin our chances,” the source said.

“As you know, Nasir El-Rufai insisted and made way for the emergence of President Bola Tinubu in 2023. As we speak, he has continued to maintain that position and will only back a southern candidate in 2027.”

The ADC official however said that the party will not stop the former vice president from contesting, noting that “the party will give everyone a level-playing field.”

Meanwhile, another reliable source within the party further revealed that if Atiku insists on running, there may be new coalition as several political leaders in ADC ready to dump Atiku and his ambition.