2027: ADC Faces Internal Strain as Atiku, Obi Camps Battle Over Presidential Ticket
In a recent interview on Silverbird N24, former President of the Nigeriai Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah, offered an in-depth assessment of the internal dynamics shaping the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the party positions itself for the 2027 general elections. Appearing on Inside Politics, Isah examined the challenges facing the ADC as a coalition platform, particularly the strain of managing competing ambitions among prominent political figures while trying to preserve unity within the party.
According to Isah, intense pressure is already building from the camps of leading political actors aligned with the ADC. He noted that supporters of Peter Obi are taking a hardline stance, insisting that it must be “Obi or nothing,” while allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are equally firm, arguing that former governor Babangida Turaki should emerge as the party’s presidential candidate. These competing demands, he explained, are fueling internal tensions, as each faction pushes aggressively for its preferred aspirant to secure the party’s ticket.
Isah observed that Peter Obi’s decision to align with the ADC has significantly energized his support base, many of whom view him as the party’s most viable option and are unwilling to consider alternatives. This, he said, reflects both Obi’s personal political appeal and the high expectations his followers have placed on the party. Conversely, Isah pointed out that Atiku’s political allies are actively lobbying for Babangida Turaki, underscoring the complex negotiations and delicate balancing act now confronting the ADC leadership.
The former editors’ guild president warned that how the party manages these internal pressures will be critical to its prospects in 2027. He cautioned that unresolved rivalries, power struggles, or a perception that the process is skewed in favour of one faction could fracture the coalition and weaken its ability to pose a serious challenge to the incumbent government.
Isah further noted that the ADC’s identity as a coalition of heavyweight opposition figures, rather than a conventional party with deeply rooted grassroots structures, makes the issue of primaries and candidate selection especially sensitive. Unlike traditional parties, he explained, the ADC must rely heavily on consensus-building among powerful interests, which raises the stakes of internal negotiations.
He concluded that the outcome of these competing ambitions will not only determine who eventually flies the ADC’s presidential flag but will also serve as a key test of the party’s capacity to harmonize diverse political interests into a unified and effective electoral strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
