The African Democratic Congress (ADC) may experience a major internal crisis if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar wins the party’s presidential ticket in the 2027 general election, according to former presidential adviser Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
In an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed discussed the aspirations of the party’s top leaders as well as internal dynamics within the coalition-backed organization.
He thinks that once the party holds a national convention, Atiku will be in a strong position to become the ADC’s flagbearer, which would lead to an exodus of resentful candidates and supporters.
“If ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will, because that’s what former Vice President Atiku wants, he will get the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“And then, a lot of people will walk out because a lot of people are in that party only for the same thing. They want the ticket.”
He argued that the ADC is currently accommodating several high-profile political actors whose interests are bound to clash once the process of selecting a presidential candidate begins.
Baba-Ahmed also spoke on the posture of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, suggesting that Obi’s political approach does not align with highly competitive party primaries.
“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘Look at me, I’m not here for number two, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is that he has people who were initially whispering politely to him,” he said. “But now they are saying, ‘Join the queue. You’re not the only one with ambition here.’”
He added that Obi was more accustomed to being adopted as a consensus candidate rather than contesting against multiple aspirants.
“Peter Obi doesn’t do convention. He just goes there to be anointed,” Baba-Ahmed said, warning that such expectations could fuel tension within the ADC.
He concluded that the outcome of the party’s convention could destabilize the coalition.
“So, the ADC will bleed after its convention because almost certainly former Vice President Atiku will win the ticket, and when he does, some people will walk out,” he said