The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the potential 2027 presidential ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as challenging.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday. He clarified that while the situation is not the “greatest threat to democracy,” it remains a significant challenge for the party.

Abdullahi stated that the ADC’s current focus is on strengthening its structures nationwide. The party is not yet discussing potential presidential candidates.

He added that the party aims to establish a strong presence. This includes all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is part of their preparations for the upcoming election cycle.

Abdullahi also clarified that the presidential race extends beyond Atiku and Peter Obi. Other individuals have expressed interest in the party’s presidential ticket.

Addressing the Challenge

Speaking on the complexity, Abdullahi acknowledged the situation’s challenging nature. “I may not describe the situation in such superlative terms to say that it’s the greatest threat to democracy at the moment,” he stated. “But is it a conundrum? Yes. Is it a challenge? Yes. Is it something we are concerned about? Yes.”

ADC’s Strategic Focus

He reiterated the party’s broader perspective, stressing that the focus is not solely on two individuals. “We have also tried to maintain that it’s not just about Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi,” Abdullahi said. “Nobody in the ADC at this time is having conversation about who the presidential candidates will be.”

The party is heavily invested in foundational work. “We have so much work to do to establish our presence, real presence. We need to be in a position to contest elections in all 36 states and the FCT,” he explained. This effort has been their primary occupation in recent months.

Path to Candidate Selection

Abdullahi outlined the ADC’s approach to candidate selection when the time comes. “We know that is an issue we have to deal with,” he affirmed. “The most important thing is at this time, when we get to that point, we try to engineer consensus.”

Consensus remains a strong option for the party. However, if a consensus cannot be reached, the party is prepared to open the contest to all interested aspirants. “It’s not just about Atiku and Peter Obi; there are other people who are also interested in contesting the presidential race,” he noted. “We have to make allowance for that. It’s not a central case between Atiku and Peter Obi.”

Beyond internal party considerations, Abdullahi also hinted at broader alliances. “I agree with you it’s an option. But there are also other options that we are looking at. Even within other political parties, we are having conversations about how to build a formidable coalition to see what is possible,” he concluded.