The chances of Peter Obi securing the presidential ticket for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) appear to be fading after Atiku Abubakar firmly restated his intention to run for president in 2027.
The former Vice President dismissed any suggestion that he might withdraw from the race, setting the stage for a direct competition within the coalition for its nomination.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Tunde Olusunle, confirmed his principal’s position, stating that Atiku believes Nigeria needs to be “decisively rescued” from what he described as an “intensive care” unit under President Bola Tinubu’s government. He quoted Atiku as saying, “I will be offering myself to lead the reclamation and reconstruction of our traumatised homeland,” highlighting his concerns over “mega-scale, unimpeded thievery and the absolute lack of accountability.”
The ADC was formed as a coalition bringing together prominent opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, with the aim of presenting a strong alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It has recently been reported that Peter Obi, in a bid to ease regional tensions and foster unity, has offered to serve only a single term of four years if elected under the ADC banner. His proposal includes a commitment to hand power back to the northern part of the country after his term, in an effort to balance political representation and secure broader support within the coalition.
However, Atiku’s latest declaration significantly complicates Obi’s proposed plan. While Obi has expressed his unwillingness to play a secondary role to anyone, Atiku has positioned himself as the most experienced politician within the alliance. Atiku was quoted emphasising that the ADC is “leading a potent mass movement which will shock the world,” adding that the coalition would “upstage the status quo in a way which will leave doubters dumbstruck.”
Further complicating matters are signals of internal miscommunication. Atiku publicly disowned a statement made by his representative, Prof Ola Olateju, who recently suggested that Atiku was “not enamoured about occupying Aso Rock at all costs” and was more focused on building a better Nigeria than on becoming president. Atiku clarified that Olateju’s comments were not sanctioned, stating, “I did not issue that statement… Prof Olateju was not speaking for me.”
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