Atiku’s Spokesman Downplays Rift in ADC Over 2027 Ticket, Says Delegates Will Decide
Amid growing speculation of a brewing crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, Paul Ibe, spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has assured that the internal contest is a reflection of democracy at work not disunity.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, Paul Ibe dismissed fears of an implosion in the opposition coalition recently formed to unseat President Bola Tinubu, saying the anticipated presidential tussle among Atiku, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi will ultimately be resolved by party delegates.
The ADC, a previously smaller opposition party, gained renewed prominence after it became the adopted platform for a coalition of political heavyweights led by Atiku. However, shortly after the coalition was launched, both former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, declared their interest to contest for the presidency on the party’s ticket sparking debate over the unity and direction of the alliance.
Amid rumours that Atiku, who has contested for the presidency six times, is also preparing for another run under the ADC banner, tensions have reportedly emerged among supporters of the three aspirants. Political observers have raised concerns over whether the alliance can survive the internal competition without fracturing before 2027.
But Ibe played down the narrative of conflict, attributing the noise to overzealous supporters rather than the leaders themselves.
“Between what Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Amaechi say, ultimately democracy has worked. It is the delegates of the party whether it is a direct or indirect primary who are going to determine the fate of these leaders,” Ibe said. “All of these two fighting or three fighting will be settled by the delegates.”
When asked if such rivalries should exist within a coalition formed on the foundation of mutual understanding, Ibe argued that internal competition is natural in a democratic setting.
“That is the nature of democracy. 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,” he said. “Everybody is being railroaded into a one-party state. It’s about choice people have the right to choose.”
He called on supporters of all the aspirants to focus on issue-based campaigns and allow the party’s internal democratic processes to take their course, urging them not to mistake healthy competition for division.
The ADC’s ability to manage the ambitions of its newly adopted political giants will be critical in determining the viability of the coalition as a credible opposition force ahead of the 2027 elections. With Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi all commanding distinct regional and political followings, how the party balances these interests will likely shape its fortunes in the months ahead.
