The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has refuted claims that there is division within its leadership concerning plans for opposition figures to use the party’s platform in the 2027 general elections.
This clarification came from Nkem Ukandu, deputy national secretary and spokesperson for the party’s National Chairperson, Ralph Nwosu, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
Reports had suggested that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai are collaborating to adopt the ADC as the vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election. Some media outlets claimed this development caused internal discord, with certain state officials allegedly opposing giving way to new political entrants.
Mr. Ukandu, however, dismissed these reports as “misleading, inaccurate, and a deliberate attempt to sow seeds of discord within the party.”
He emphasized the ADC’s openness to working with “all progressive-minded Nigerians,” highlighting that the party had even amended its constitution “to accommodate partners who are equally passionate about national development.”
He added, “Handshake has always been in our DNA, not out of desperation, but because we believe in inclusive governance and coalition-building based on shared values. We are a party built on clear ideological direction and structured leadership.”
Further stressing the unity within ADC, Ukandu revealed that the party undertook wide consultations and stakeholder engagements across different zones before reaching what he described as a ‘consensus’ on the coalition strategy.
According to him, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had unanimously endorsed the coalition strategy during a meeting held last year at the NICON Luxury Hotel, which was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Following that, we held additional NEC meetings, including one in October of the same year. In total, we convened over four NEC meetings, all focused on solidifying our position.”
“In some of these gatherings, coalition partners were admitted as observers, and INEC’s statutory presence reaffirmed the legitimacy of the process,” he explained.
He went on to affirm that “no dissenting voice was recorded during National Working Committee (NWC) meetings, reinforcing the party’s internal cohesion and shared vision.”
Additionally, state and zonal chairpersons aligned themselves with the coalition strategy during the ADC global summit on May 14.
“This party is united in purpose, and we are fully committed to building a credible coalition to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges,” Mr. Ukandu concluded.
