2027 Elections: ADC Faces Uncertainty as Atiku, Obi Stall on Membership

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

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With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, the opposition coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), is grappling with internal challenges amid concerns over the delayed membership of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

Portraits of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, both prominent Nigerian politicians, smiling and dressed in traditional attire.

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Although both leaders have been central to the coalition’s formation, their reluctance to formally join the ADC has cast doubt on the party’s momentum and capacity to galvanise mass support against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Coalition Movement and Setbacks

On March 20, 2024, prominent opposition figures, including Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and others, unveiled a new coalition movement in Abuja. After weeks of consultations, the ADC was adopted as the coalition’s political platform on July 1, with David Mark named interim National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

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However, despite public declarations, Atiku and Obi are yet to formalise their membership. This delay, Akahi News gathered, has slowed down the coalition’s drive to attract new members and consolidate its base.

A senior ADC official, speaking anonymously, said: “Members of the party, especially the NWC, are worried. Atiku and Obi have not joined, and this is affecting the momentum. If they had joined, Nigerians would have begun trooping into the party, and resources would be flowing in to strengthen our structures nationwide.”

INEC Recognition and Legal Hurdles

The party is also battling recognition issues. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to officially acknowledge David Mark’s leadership, while pending litigations continue to disrupt its activities. Sources allege that the APC-led government is covertly sponsoring legal disputes to stall the coalition’s growth.

Another coalition leader disclosed: “The ADC is still formidable and remains the only viable opposition platform. But the absence of INEC’s recognition and legal distractions are slowing us down. With Atiku and Obi yet to join formally, people who would have followed them into the party are holding back.”

Mixed Reactions from Party Leaders

Responding to enquiries, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed claims of division or uncertainty. “We are not disturbed over Atiku and Obi’s delayed membership. Nothing has changed; both of them are very much with the coalition. Anyone that’s telling you we are disturbed is a liar,” he stated.

Similarly, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, confirmed the former Vice President’s commitment to the coalition. He stressed that Atiku was undergoing the membership process and remained focused on the opposition’s collective mission: “Atiku is not contemplating leaving the coalition. It is propaganda for anyone to say so. His registration is in progress. He is committed to the coalition arrangement, and Nigerians are behind this movement to rescue the country.”

Attempts to reach Obi’s camp, particularly his loyalist Yunusa Tanko, coordinator of the Obidient Movement, were unsuccessful.

Future of the Coalition

Analysts say the ADC’s strength as an opposition force will depend heavily on whether Atiku, Obi, and other influential politicians eventually formalise their membership. Their involvement would not only boost financial resources but also give the coalition the credibility and mass following required to mount a strong challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

For now, the coalition remains at a crossroads, with its leaders striving to project confidence despite lingering doubts over whether the arrangement can survive without the firm commitment of its most prominent backers.