As Nigeria’s opposition parties wrestle with internal conflicts and diminishing unity, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unexpectedly emerged as a central platform for key opposition figures eyeing the 2027 presidential race.
The party, historically linked to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is currently in discussions with both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
With the PDP and Labour Party struggling to resolve deep internal rifts, both men are reportedly evaluating the ADC as a neutral coalition base.
At a press briefing, ADC chieftain Mani Ahmed stated, “I can categorically inform you that the African Democratic Congress is the coalition party in Nigeria. What remains is merely dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”
A source close to Atiku confirmed to DAILY GAZETTE that the talks are progressing, though the former VP is still watching to see whether the PDP can recover from its ongoing crisis.
“Atiku is still weighing his options along with Obi. Should the PDP collapse irretrievably, then the ADC will become the platform of choice,” the source revealed.
The PDP is currently split among Atiku’s loyalists, a faction led by ex-Governor Nyesom Wike, now in Tinubu’s cabinet, and another camp aligned with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
Zoning disagreements, especially Wike’s push for a southern presidency until 2031, have stalled party unity since 2023.
Similarly, Labour Party’s internal conflict has intensified.
Party chairman Julius Abure has clashed with Peter Obi over control of the party, leading to suspensions of some of Obi’s allies and diminishing the movement’s post-election strength.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s APC has taken advantage of the situation to expand.
In Delta State, long a PDP stronghold, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other PDP figures recently defected to the APC.
Vice President Kashim Shettima called the move a “political tsunami of unimaginable proportions that has never happened in the history of the South-South and the history of Nigeria.”
Political realignments are also underway in other regions. Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra has gravitated toward Tinubu, and Kano opposition lawmakers have switched allegiance to the APC.
In Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno publicly endorsed Tinubu’s reelection bid, though PDP governors have rejected any plans for a merger.
In this evolving context, the ADC is being considered a safe harbor for politicians disillusioned with their parties.
Though it has yet to hold national power and has won limited legislative seats since its creation in 2005, its relative stability is attracting attention.
The party was previously used in 2019 as a brief coalition vehicle endorsed by Obasanjo before Atiku and Obi ran together under the PDP.
While some are weighing alternatives like the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which recently welcomed former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, its own internal disputes have made the ADC a more viable fallback.
Speculation is mounting that Atiku and Obi may reunite under a one-term arrangement, with Atiku running for president and Obi as vice president.
However, Obi’s supporters have raised concerns about fairness and hierarchy.
“Even when Tinubu wasn’t in control of the central government, he never lost an election,” observed Busari Dauda, a political analyst at the University of Ibadan.
“Now that he controls all the levers of power, it is next to impossible for them to stop him. Only God can stop him at this point.”
With the race to 2027 heating up, whether the fractured opposition can unify around a party like the ADC may determine if Nigeria’s next election will present a serious challenge to Tinubu or merely reinforce his grip on power.
