The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that growing division among supporters of its presidential aspirants could damage the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections, cautioning against what it described as a “must-be-my-candidate” mindset.
The party said loyalty to one aspirant at the expense of party unity could weaken its ability to present a strong challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The warning was given on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bola Abdullahi, during a virtual meeting known as the ADC Coalition Hours. The forum brought together party members, supporters, and stakeholders to discuss strategy and internal issues ahead of the next general election.
According to Abdullahi, the ADC has become home to several high-profile political figures who have indicated interest in contesting for the party’s presidential ticket. While this development has boosted the party’s profile, it has also led to growing tension among supporters.
In July 2025, the ADC was adopted as the coalition platform by opposition figures seeking to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. The move marked a major shift in Nigeria’s opposition politics, as several politicians from different parties agreed to work under a single platform.
Since then, the party has been working to strengthen its structures across the country. The ADC is currently led by former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. Under their leadership, the party has focused on building national presence and gaining the trust of voters.
The party’s rising profile has attracted prominent politicians. Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi joined the ADC in July, followed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in November. Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi officially joined the party on December 31. All three have signalled their intention to seek the ADC’s presidential ticket.
In addition to these three, the party expects more aspirants to declare interest in the coming weeks, further increasing competition within the party.
However, Abdullahi said the enthusiasm of supporters has also created challenges. He noted that some supporters have adopted a rigid attitude, insisting that their preferred candidate must get the ticket or the party risks losing their support.
This attitude, he warned, could weaken the party’s chances in the general election.
“Those supporting this divisiveness among supporters of any of the aspirants should stop what they are doing because they are clearly working to the advantage of the APC and President Bola Tinubu,” Abdullahi said.
He specifically mentioned the “Obi or nothing” slogan being promoted by some supporters of Peter Obi, describing it as harmful to the party’s unity and broader appeal.
“Saying it is either this candidate or nothing is not helpful,” he said. “Getting the ticket alone means nothing. What is important is winning the election, and we cannot carry this divisiveness and expect to win.”
The party spokesman stressed that unity is key to winning elections, especially for an opposition party challenging an incumbent government.
According to him, all the aspirants are qualified and capable, and none should be attacked or presented as superior to others.
“We believe that all our aspirants are eminently qualified, and vilifying anybody or any region is not helpful and will only make things more difficult,” he said.
He also warned against regional or zoning arguments that could divide the party. Since the declaration of interest by leading figures, supporters have clashed over whether the presidential ticket should be zoned to the South or left open.
Many supporters of Peter Obi have argued that the ticket should go to the South, while supporters of Atiku Abubakar have called for an open contest without zoning. These disagreements have played out on social media and within party circles.
Abdullahi said he has met with key coalition leaders to address the issue and promote unity. He said discussions were held with Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and other influential figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
“I spent time talking to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, who have indicated interest in vying for the presidential ticket of our party,” he said. “The general consensus is that we have a job to do to make this country a better place.”
According to him, the leaders are aware of the task ahead and are committed to working together to win the election.
The ADC spokesman also spoke about the timing of the 2027 elections and how it could affect opposition strategy. He noted that early elections could be challenging for the party, especially if the primaries leave wounds that need time to heal.
“As an opposition, we need time to heal wounds after our primaries,” he said. “We cannot afford to go into bruised primaries and then quickly put ourselves together for the elections.”
He added that while public dissatisfaction with the current administration could work in the opposition’s favour, the party does not control the election timetable.
“People are already tired of this administration,” he said. “But we are not in a position to decide when the election will hold.”
Abdullahi said the ADC would soon begin deliberate efforts to strengthen unity within the party. This includes encouraging party leaders to speak with one voice and discouraging supporters from spreading messages that divide rather than unite.
“We are going to commence the process of strengthening unity and having our leaders speak with one voice,” he said.
He also cautioned that extreme loyalty to one aspirant could harm the very candidate supporters are trying to promote.
“Those shouting ‘Peter Obi or nothing’ are equally not helping him,” Abdullahi said. “They are preaching division and making it harder for people from other places to support him.”
According to him, winning a national election requires broad support across regions, religions, and political backgrounds. Any message that excludes others could reduce the party’s chances.
As preparations for 2027 continue, the ADC’s warning highlights the challenges opposition parties often face when managing internal competition. While having strong candidates can boost a party’s profile, it can also create division if not properly managed.