At the third plenary session of the Northern Political Consultative Group (NPCG) held in Abuja, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), revealed why no serving governor has officially joined their coalition.

He explained that “no serving governor would be willing to cross over because of the intimidation that they are facing.”

Abdullahi spoke openly about the pressure governors are under, stating, “We know what they are doing to them. Some of them who cannot jump to their party are saying we are endorsing their presidential candidate. No problem. But what you are seeing is a conspiracy against the Nigerian people.”

Despite the pressure, he emphasized that the ADC remains inclusive, declaring, “The ADC welcomes everybody, but we are convinced that we are a movement that has the backing of the majority of Nigerians who are not happy with the direction this country is going.”

On the question of who would represent the ADC in 2027, Abdullahi noted that no candidate selection process has started.

“We don’t have any favourite aspirants or candidates. We are not having any conversation at the moment,” he said.

“Nobody has ever had any conversation about who will be the party’s flag bearer. We believe that it is too early in the day. Our focus now is to build a political party that is strong enough to deliver on the mission that we have set for ourselves.”

Earlier in the session, former SGF Babachir David Lawal reiterated the coalition’s commitment to supporting whichever candidate emerges from ADC’s electoral process.

“The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. We are going to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election. And whoever emerges, be it North, South, Central, West, whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.”

So far, political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi have all expressed interest in contesting the ADC presidential ticket.

Despite that, Abdullahi emphasized, the coalition’s strength lies in its movement and message, not in its current roster of state governors.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will rally behind whomever emerges as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking to journalists after the third expanded session of the National Political Consultative Group (North) at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Lawal said the party remains committed to democratic principles in selecting its standard bearer.

“The ADC as a political party is a party that is founded on democratic principles. We are going to conduct congresses and conventions to elect our representatives at the election,” he said.

“And whoever emerges, be it North, South, Central, West, whoever emerges at either the congresses or at the convention, ADC will support it, and the Northern Political Consultative Group will support that decision.”

The remark comes amid the growing momentum behind the opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which recently adopted the ADC as its political platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming election.

Notable figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi (former Labour Party presidential candidate), Rotimi Amaechi (former Rivers governor), and Nasir El-Rufai (former Kaduna governor), have all shown interest in the ADC ticket.

When asked about the credibility of the electoral process and whether votes would truly matter in 2027, Lawal was emphatic:

“No one in ADC leadership or rank and file believes that votes do not count. Votes do count. And we are going to make sure that votes do count. This election, votes will count.”

“I tell you, forget about this fear that votes will not count. ADC is a party of Nigerians. ADC is one. Whatever techniques, whatever malicious activity they throw at us, we’ll counter it effectively. We will counter and defeat them at it.”

He noted that the session was convened to reflect on and respond to the security and development challenges confronting Northern Nigeria, and to deliberate on how best to prepare for the future.

According to Lawal, the current administration lacks the political will to address these concerns.

“As it is, we are of the opinion that this government has no interest in solving problems confronting the North, be it infrastructure, be it peace, be it security. So we have to take the ball in our hands and work towards achieving solutions to our problems.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to reject the coalition forming under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing its members as “naysayers and unpatriotic.”

Speaking on Saturday at the 35th Combined Convocation and 50th Anniversary of the University of Port Harcourt, where he was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Science in Political Science, Wike claimed the coalition’s sole aim was to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, despite lacking any credible record of service from past positions they’ve held.

He said, “The only intention of the coalition is to wrest power from incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, come 2027, even when they have no proven record of achievement in the various elective positions they have occupied in the past.”

Wike commended Tinubu’s early decisions in office, describing them as painful but necessary steps toward national transformation. He noted that some progress is already evident.

“Through his Renewed Hope Agenda, he has with the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund among other remarkable initiatives started the dramatic transformation of tertiary education landscape in such a way that soon, no willing child will be denied access to quality education because of economic hardship.”

He added, “Our country is undoubtedly on the path of positive ascendency and very soon, the impact will be visible even to the blind and obvious even to the cynically minded.”

Condemning the coalition, Wike accused its members of promoting falsehoods and division as part of a political agenda to undermine the Tinubu-led government.

He said, “We must resist the purveyors of lies, hate and division who seek to destroy our country. These men and women who converge under the banner of so-called coalition and propelling a division of grandeur and perpetual fight for relevance and political power.”

“If you interrogate their profiles, you will find that they have been in office for almost all their lives. Yet, they have nothing concrete to show of their achievements in building an enduring nation.”

He continued, “In only two years of this administration, they are congregating to destroy rather than build and rather than reconstruct our hitherto battered country for which most of them have been active dramatis personae in the willful destruction of our politics and economy which they painfully orchestrated in their respective tenure in office.”

“We know these naysayers and you are enjoined to reject them and their unpatriotic drum beats of division and failed propaganda.”

Speaking further about his ties with the University of Port Harcourt, Wike reflected on his long-standing relationship with the institution and why he continues to support it.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that I have always strongly believed that every alumnus should give back to the university as a mark of pure gratitude.”

“This also explains why I freely give to this institution whenever I have had the opportunity to so do.”

He recalled that there was no Faculty of Law at the university until his intervention during his time as Minister of State for Education.

“To this extent, you would recall that even though this university was established in 1975 as a conventional university, there was no Law faculty in this university.”

“So, when I became a Minister of State (for) Education, I saw it as an opportunity that we must have a Faculty of Law. I’m glad that the Vice-Chancellor said it here today that today, we have a Faculty of Law. I did not only end at that; I said there must be a befitting Faculty of Law building, and I insisted, and today, we have that Faculty of Law.”

As political discussions continue to swirl around zoning and power rotation ahead of the 2027 general elections, Umar Sani, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed his preference for former President Goodluck Jonathan over Peter Obi as the party’s presidential candidate.

Sani, who once served as media aide to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, made the statement during an appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme on Saturday.

Addressing growing speculation that the PDP might be considering bringing back Jonathan or forming an alliance with Peter Obi, Sani argued that the North would find Jonathan a more suitable choice.

He explained that Jonathan’s return would allow the South to complete a constitutionally limited four-year term, which he believes aligns better with regional expectations than Obi’s voluntary pledge.

“I will prefer that President Jonathan takes the ticket, not because I do not like Obi, but because that will ensure that the South will have completed their four years,” he said.

According to Sani, Jonathan is limited by law to just one term, making his tenure predictable and finite.

On the other hand, Obi who ran under the Labour Party in 2023 and has declared his interest in the 2027 race has only promised to stay in office for one term, a pledge Sani views as uncertain.

“Between somebody making a promise and somebody who is compelled by the law that he must leave, which one will you take? This one is compelled by the law, he does not need to make any promise.”

“He has to go after four years. This one is making a promise. A promise can be kept and may not be kept either way. But on this one, you are sure that it must be kept. So for the North, I think Goodluck Jonathan is the best choice,” Sani added.

He acknowledged that Peter Obi enjoys widespread credibility and personal integrity, but stressed that when it comes to balancing national interests, especially with regard to the North’s political future, Jonathan represents the safer path.

Sani’s remarks align with a broader political narrative: that any Southern candidate in 2027 should be expected to serve only a four-year term in order to complete the region’s eight-year cycle, matching the tenure of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner.

Peter Obi, in his 2027 declaration, had stated his readiness to serve a single term if elected.

However, Sani believes that relying solely on verbal commitments leaves the North vulnerable and may delay its return to power.