Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, is reportedly fighting for influence, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential aspirations is reportedly influencing the internal structure of the African Democratic Congress as the general elections for 2027 approach.
According to ADC insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, Atiku funded attempts to seize the party’s leadership in order to run against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
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The majority of the ADC’s state chapters, zonal organisations, and even its national leadership are now primarily in agreement with Atiku, according to a party source.
However, ADC interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, refuted claims that Atiku had taken over the coalition.
He emphasised that the group’s goal of unseating Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the upcoming election remained unified.
Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s director of publicity, on the other hand, rejected the coalition, saying it was insufficiently strong to overthrow the incumbent party.
Important members of the ADC coalition, such as Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and Rotimi Amaechi, the former presidential candidate of the APC, have publicly stated their desire to run against President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
PDP 2023 presidential candidate and former Vice President Atiku also hinted at launching another bid for the Presidency.
Recall that on July 3, Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, charged that the interim ADC leadership, led by David Mark, was planning Atiku’s campaign.
On August 4, the Obidient Movement expressed worries about its members being excluded from ADC’s key decision-making processes in a leaked memo addressed to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
Obi’s group accused the coalition of marginalising its members despite their crucial role in fortifying the political grouping in a July 29, 2025, paper signed by Tanko Yunusa, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement.
Following the leaked memo, ADC interim National Publicity Secretary, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH assured that all aspirants would be given a level playing field and that the party was committed to a transparent process.
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He stated, “All stakeholders are carried along in the ADC activities. The party is not loyal to anybody and has not been taken over by anyone. The National Organizing Secretary was nominated by Peter Obi. This is the most powerful party position. So, every stakeholder is carried along.
“So, the structure of ADC, from the NWC to other structures, does not belong to Atiku or anyone. We are working alongside all our stakeholders equally to unseat President Tinubu in 2027.
“The ADC as a coalition platform is beyond 2027. We are united to rescue Nigerians from Tinubu’s APC and bring about good governance. So no division anywhere.
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