ADC says it followed the law to form a strong team for 2027 elections.
The party promises fair treatment for all candidates and no secret support for anyone.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reassured Nigerians that every action taken in forming and endorsing the party as a coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections was based on solid legal principles.
This reassurance was given by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, during a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday. Abdullahi explained that the ADC leadership has taken all necessary legal steps to ensure the party’s stability and unity as it transforms into a broader coalition.
The ADC recently announced its new position as a unifying platform for various opposition forces. Since the declaration was made on July 1, many Nigerians have raised questions over the possibility of internal disagreements, especially given the presidential ambitions of prominent political figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 candidate Peter Obi, and former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Rotimi Amaechi.
Speaking on this, Abdullahi said the party would not favour any aspirant or endorse a candidate ahead of time. He made it clear that the ADC has no secret agenda or hidden plans for any politician. Instead, the party intends to run an open and inclusive process that ensures fairness for all interested aspirants.
“I have not heard Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar say if it’s not them, then it’s nothing,” he said. “It’s their supporters or people who purport to speak for them that are saying this.”
Abdullahi added that those who truly want to influence the outcome of the party’s presidential primaries should join ADC officially and take part in the democratic process.
“Whether it’s Peter Obi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other aspirants on the ADC platform, we are not going to anoint any aspirant or candidate. Like our chairman has emphasized, we don’t have a predetermined agenda or favorite candidates. We will provide a level playing ground and a transparent process for the emergence of our presidential candidate,” he stated.
He further explained that party supporters voicing strong opinions on social media or in the press do not necessarily speak on behalf of the aspirants themselves. “It’s okay for supporters to say what they want, but that doesn’t mean they reflect the thoughts of those they support,” he said.
Abdullahi also addressed concerns about potential legal battles that could affect the coalition. He said the ADC had already anticipated such risks and had taken appropriate steps to ensure there were no legal loopholes that could be exploited by opponents.
“We’re not aware of any encumbrance. There’s no encumbrance as far as I know,” he said. “Yes, some individuals have gone to court or said they are going to court. But it’s likely that they don’t have the correct information.”
He added that the party has worked for a long time to prepare for this coalition and had taken the necessary legal advice to avoid the kind of internal crisis that has weakened other opposition parties in the past.
“This didn’t just happen overnight. We knew the challenges and took our time to prepare legally. We know that if we leave any loopholes, the ruling party will exploit them. That is why we’ve made sure everything is on solid legal ground,” Abdullahi concluded.
