● I was not asked to step down for southern candidate, former VP clarifies
● Party denies zoning ticket to South, welcomes presidential ambitions
● ADC slams presidency over coup claim, warns against crackdown on opposition
The spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has stated that the reported tension among leading opposition figures in the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket will ultimately be resolved by the party’s delegates.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV, Ibe noted that the leaders involved in the coalition had reached a prior understanding about the need to make sacrifices before launching the alliance. He dismissed reports of internal crisis, insisting that it is supporters—not the leaders—who are “jostling for space.”
“Between what Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Amaechi say is, ultimately, democracy has worked. It is the delegates of the party—whether it is a direct or indirect primary—they are the ones who are going to determine the fate of these leaders. All of these ‘two fighting’ or ‘three fighting’ will be settled by the delegates,” Ibe said.
When asked whether there should be any conflict in a coalition that was formed based on mutual understanding, he responded that such disagreements are part of democratic practice.
“Maybe it’s because of the fact that we lost the essence of what democracy is all about because of what Tinubu and his administration have been doing. Everybody is being railroaded into a one-party state. It’s about choice; people have the right to choose,” he added.
This came as his principal, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday refuted claims that he was urged to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of a southern candidate, labelling the report as false and politically motivated propaganda allegedly spread by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released by his media office in Abuja, Atiku dismissed the alleged meeting where he was said to have declined pressure to step aside, asserting that no such discussion had ever taken place and that he had never been approached with such a request.
“There was no such meeting. Atiku Abubakar was never in attendance. The entire story is a malicious fabrication; pure fiction cooked up in the propaganda kitchens of the Tinubu-led APC regime,” the statement read.
“This is nothing but a diversionary tactic; an attempt by a faltering administration to sow discord within the opposition and derail the momentum gained by the successful unveiling of the ADC,” he said.
MEANWHILE, the spokesperson for the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, has stated that the party has no objection to any of its leaders declaring their intention to run for president.
Following the formal launch of the ADC on July 2, both Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, have announced their intention to contest the 2027 presidential election. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who led the opposition coalition that adopted the ADC, is also rumoured to be interested in joining the race.
While there are concerns that the ambitions of multiple party leaders may trigger internal conflict, the ADC has dismissed such fears. Speaking on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics yesterday, Abdullahi said the party is not disturbed by the presidential ambitions of its key figures, noting that political aspirations are expected in any political platform.
“It’s just politicians doing what politicians will do. Every politician has an ambition in one way or the other, but what is important is for the party to be able to impose its authority, to regulate or motivate the ambitions of individual members. I mean, even in conceptual terms, that’s what political parties are meant to do—to aggregate interests, to ambitions. So we don’t have any problems with anybody coming to say I want to be president. I want to be this or that. That’s not the problem,” Abdullahi said.
He added: “The important thing is that we are able to build a party that is strong, that is strong enough, and able to impose its authority on individual members. That is one. Two, build a party that is transparently just and gives an opportunity to everyone. So, once you are able to give opportunity to everyone, then you also increase your own authorisation level and be able to discipline your membership.”
In response to speculations that the ADC had zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, Abdullahi, who also serves as the party’s interim publicity secretary, dismissed the claims as unfounded. He described the rumours as propaganda by the ruling APC aimed at weakening the credibility of the opposition coalition.
This came as Femi Emmanuel, the National Director of the Directorate of Public Governance (DPG) under the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), expressed doubts about the ADC coalition’s ability to unseat the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
According to him, “One factor that is likely to weaken the party is the unbridled ambitions of those wanting to be President. This was not prevalent during the merger of APC in 2015. Here in ADC, we have el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi. It is obvious that Obi and Atiku will not want to shelve their ambitions.
“The issue of where to zone the presidential ticket is also a big challenge. At present, the issue is gradually coming out such that the party leadership has to speak up.”
He, however, urged Nigerians not to write off the coalition, while also calling on the ruling APC to urgently address the economic hardship facing the country.
ADC slams presidency over coup claim
The African Democratic Congress has strongly condemned recent allegations by the presidency suggesting that opposition parties are plotting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government before the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party described the claims, made via a tweet by presidential aide Mr Bayo Onanuga, as “reckless, malicious and dangerous,” warning that such unfounded allegations may signal an attempt to initiate a crackdown on opposition leaders and curtail civil liberties.
According to Bolaji Abdullahi, the Interim National Publicity Secretary and spokesperson of the opposition coalition, the comment from the presidency was not only irresponsible but also appeared to be part of a broader agenda to suppress legitimate political dissent.
“Bayo Onanuga’s tweet is a textbook example of a political dog whistle,” the ADC said.
“The APC-led federal government appears to be constructing a false narrative designed to justify a potential clampdown on dissent and to criminalise legitimate opposition activity under the guise of national security.”
The party emphasised its commitment to democratic processes, stating that it remains focused solely on offering alternative policies and leadership to Nigerians.
“We are not soldiers; we are politicians,” Abdullahi said. “We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots. When the time comes, we will present our solutions and alternative vision to the people and leave them to make their choice.”
The ADC also questioned why the ruling All Progressives Congress, which gained power as an opposition party in 2015, now appears unsettled by the existence of a vibrant opposition.
“It is ironic that the same APC, which made history as the first opposition party to defeat an incumbent, now seems alarmed by the very idea of opposition. This betrays not strength, but insecurity and panic,” the party said.
The ADC called on President Tinubu to caution his aides against making baseless and inflammatory statements that could destabilise the political environment, especially with two years remaining before the next general elections.
The party further urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist what it described as “underhanded tactics” aimed at delegitimising opposition voices and restricting political freedoms.
In a direct appeal to the international community, the ADC called on democratic nations, international observers, and human rights bodies to monitor the situation closely and hold the Tinubu administration accountable for any attempts to undermine democratic values.
“We urge the international community to take note and hold the Tinubu administration responsible for any setback to Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement concluded.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to nation-building through peaceful and democratic means, insisting that it would continue to champion the interests of Nigerians through the ballot.
