Presidential hopefuls under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are closing ranks ahead of 2027.
They have agreed, in principle, to support whoever wins the ADC presidential ticket but only after a fair primary.
This pact comes amid fresh political alliances shaping Nigeria’s opposition landscape.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, told Leadership Weekend that all aspirants want a united front.
However, they demand clarity on what makes a transparent primary.
He said, “We agreed in principle to support any candidate from a transparent process. But we must define transparency first.”
Clearly, the fear of a hijacked process still looms.
Although Amaechi lost the APC ticket to Tinubu in 2023, he now seeks another shot under the ADC.
David Mark Denies Bias, Pledges Fairness
Earlier this week, ADC interim chairman, Senator David Mark, stated that the party has no preferred candidate.
He assured that everyone will compete fairly under his leadership.
This came after reports suggesting that Atiku Abubakar had already secured internal backing.
Meanwhile, Mark urged aspirants and their supporters to remain focused on the bigger goal defeating the ruling APC.
Zoning Still Divides Aspirants
Dumebi Kachikwu, former ADC presidential candidate, claims the ticket is being pushed northward.
He said the leadership intends to favour Atiku, stirring another round of zoning controversy.
Although zoning remains an unresolved issue, some believe it could make or break the coalition.
Notably, the APC zoned its 2023 ticket to the South after Buhari’s eight years in power.
Now, the opposition faces the same dilemma.
Despite these revelations, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s national spokesperson, says he knows nothing about the agreement.
He said, “I’m not aware of any pact, but the party will ensure a level playing field.”
According to him, transparency and inclusiveness remain ADC’s core value.
The ADC faces a critical test.
If it handles the primaries fairly, it could present a united opposition.
But if mistrust creeps in, the coalition may unravel before the campaign season begins.