ADC Reaffirms Internal Democracy Amid Debate Over 2027 Presidential Ticket
The African Democratic Congress has moved to dispel growing speculation that its platform is being reserved for any particular aspirant ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, insisted that the ADC remains an open and democratic platform where no individual enjoys preferential treatment.
His comments come as conversations intensify within the party over whether its presidential ticket should be zoned or left open to competitive primaries.
Several state chairmen of the party have recently called on the national leadership to abandon zoning considerations and instead allow a transparent process that would enable the most suitable candidate to emerge.
The ADC has attracted heightened attention since July 2025 when a coalition of prominent political figures formally adopted it as a vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the next general elections.
Under the leadership of National Chairman and former Senate President David Mark, with former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola serving as National Secretary, the party has embarked on an aggressive restructuring and membership drive.
That effort has brought in a number of heavyweight politicians with presidential ambitions, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Party officials say more aspirants are expected to formally indicate interest in the coming weeks.
Despite this influx, Abdullahi rejected claims that the ADC is being configured to advance the political aspirations of Atiku Abubakar.
“No, it’s absolutely not. Every ADC member knows that. It’s only people looking from the outside that say this,” he said.
He maintained that the diversity of personalities now in the party is evidence that it belongs to no single individual or faction.
“Every ADC member knows today that our party does not belong to anybody, and that’s why Peter Obi will come in and that’s why Rotimi Amaechi is there,” Abdullahi stated.
According to him, the narrative suggesting otherwise is being deliberately promoted by the ruling APC to sow confusion within the opposition.
“It is the ruling party spreading it. You see, they’re trying to second-guess us, trying to gaslight us. And I tell them to mind their business. It’s called voyeurism.
“If Atiku gets the ticket, he gets the ticket. It doesn’t mean that they were right all along. If Atiku gets the ticket, he gets the ticket. If somebody else gets the ticket, he gets it. But what I’m saying is that where we stand today, this ADC does not belong to anybody,” the spokesman stated.
Abdullahi further expressed confidence in the party’s momentum, describing its expansion as unprecedented in Nigeria’s recent political history. He argued that the ADC has quickly positioned itself as a credible alternative capable of challenging the dominance of the APC.
He added that the party had “one of the fastest growths in Nigeria’s political history,” stressing that it was increasingly evident that the ADC represented the only “viable option” for Nigerians seeking a change of leadership in 2027.
With internal debates continuing and more aspirants expected to join the race, party leaders insist that the ADC will rely on internal democratic mechanisms to select its flag bearer when the time comes.
