Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has intervened to douse escalating tensions within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following sharp exchanges between his supporters and backers of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
The internal rift has deepened in recent weeks, particularly on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), after Obi defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ADC in December. Obi said his move was aimed at building a formidable opposition coalition capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges and unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Since his entry into the ADC, supporters of Obi especially members of the Obidient Movement have intensified calls for Atiku to step aside in favour of Obi.
The campaign has, however, triggered resistance from Atiku’s supporters, fuelling concerns about growing divisions within the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
On Tuesday, Atiku publicly appealed for restraint, warning that attacks on either himself or Obi only weaken the opposition and strengthen the APC.
In a post on X, the former vice president urged supporters to end what he described as a self-inflicted “civil war” within the coalition.
“Anyone who insults Obi or Atiku does not mean well for the leaders, the ADC coalition and for Nigeria and Nigerians. The only people who benefit from such a civil war are the APC urban bandits who want to maintain the satanic status quo. We are better together!” Atiku wrote.
Atiku was responding to a post by an X user identified as “Everest,” who accused Atiku’s supporters of attacking Obi while expecting no backlash. The user claimed that Obi was being unfairly undermined while Atiku was shielded from criticism.
In a follow-up response, the user acknowledged Atiku’s intervention but insisted that some of his close allies often make subtle remarks aimed at diminishing Obi’s electoral value, adding that unity would only be possible if such conduct stopped.
Earlier, ADC chieftain and Atiku ally, Dele Momodu, also warned against rising hostility within the party, cautioning that unchecked infighting could destabilise the coalition before it fully consolidates.
In a post titled “My Candid Advice to ADC: Avoid Another Wike Scenario,” Momodu urged the party leadership to prevent any group or individual from importing “aggression and rambunctiousness” into the coalition. He stressed that the ADC was adopted as a voluntary opposition platform built on internal democracy, not entitlement.
“No group or individual should be allowed to cause chaos,” Momodu warned, adding that attempts to secure the presidential ticket through “donation and coronation” rather than persuasion and credible primaries would weaken the party.
He likened the unfolding situation to the crisis that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cautioning that the ADC must avoid degenerating into factional disputes that could turn it into what he described as “a Fuji house of commotion.”
At the heart of the tension are zoning and succession arguments. Obi’s supporters have continued to argue that the ADC should zone its presidential ticket to the South, citing sentiments that favour a southern candidate after the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Both Atiku and Obi have openly indicated interest in contesting for the ADC presidential ticket, intensifying manoeuvring among their respective camps. However, the party leadership has downplayed zoning debates for now.
Earlier, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party was not prioritising zoning but focused on repositioning itself as a credible alternative to the APC. He noted that strengthening internal structures and expanding the party’s national reach remained the immediate goal.
Despite Atiku’s call for calm, differing opinions over the likely outcome of the ADC primaries persist. A former PDP governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr Umar Ardo, said Obi’s chances of clinching the ticket remain slim if Atiku stays in the race.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Ardo described Atiku as the dominant force within the coalition and the clear favourite to emerge as the party’s flagbearer.
“The ADC, as it is currently constituted, if it goes for primaries a hundred times, Atiku will win a hundred times. There is absolutely no doubt about that,” Ardo said.
He added that Obi’s prospects depend largely on Atiku’s personal decision to step aside, while acknowledging Obi’s electoral value, noting that the former Anambra governor commands over six million votes nationwide.
Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount from Obi’s allies, many of whom insist he must not accept a vice-presidential slot under any coalition arrangement. Political economist Pat Utomi has threatened to withdraw his support if Obi accepts a running mate position, a view echoed by activist Aisha Yesufu and leaders of the Obidient Movement, who maintain that Obi must contest the presidency.
Daily Trust
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