2027: Coalition Pressures Atiku, Peter Obi to Fully Join ADC

The opposition coalition has instructed its members, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, to formally resign from their current political parties and transition fully into the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The ADC has been adopted as the coalition’s platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

The directive was announced on Thursday in Abuja by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following a caucus meeting attended by top party leaders and influential political figures.

According to Abdullahi, all issues relating to the African Democratic Association (ADA) had been resolved. “The coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means, they are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association,” he said.

He noted that while the caucus ordered members to resign from other parties, it did not specify a timeline. “Though final order has been given to all members to resign membership of other political parties, the caucus was silent on the timeline,” Abdullahi explained.

Since the coalition formally unveiled the ADC on July 2, several opposition leaders have defected, though Atiku and Obi are yet to formally cut ties with their old platforms. Atiku has left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but has not registered as an ADC member, while Obi still maintains ties with the Labour Party despite aligning with the coalition.

Abdullahi further revealed that the coalition’s National Working Committee will soon release the timetable for primary elections in Osun and Ekiti states ahead of the off-cycle governorship polls. “All the presidential aspirants have agreed to support whoever wins the primaries election,” he added.

Those present at the meeting included ADC National Chairman David Mark, Atiku Abubakar, National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

Meanwhile, both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have dismissed the coalition’s activities, insisting it poses no threat to their dominance.

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