Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex-Kano State governor, are set to exit the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with mounting evidence that the dominant trigger is the unresolved presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar.
- +Obi, Kwankwaso set to dump ADC over Atiku’s ambition
Multiple sources within the opposition coalition confirmed that both leaders have concluded plans to leave the party next week, following irreconcilable differences over the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Multiple sources within the opposition coalition confirmed that both leaders have concluded plans to leave the party next week, following irreconcilable differences over the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Insiders say Atiku’s refusal to step down, and his insistence on contesting what is widely seen as his final shot at the presidency, has effectively stalled internal negotiations and fractured the fragile alliance built to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
A senior figure within the Kwankwasiyya movement disclosed that while leadership disputes and legal uncertainties in the party contributed to tensions, “the real issue has always been the presidential ticket.”
The source noted that Obi and Kwankwaso had initially entered the coalition under the expectation of a consensus arrangement or a strategic compromise that would prioritise electoral viability. However, Atiku’s firm stance disrupted that expectation.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Buba Galadima, a close ally of Kwankwaso, hinted at the imminent breakaway and criticised the circumstances that led to the alliance.
“As from Monday, when our leaders declare on which platform they will run, I want to tell you that one of two things will happen. And I’m here to guide you on your response to what will happen.”
Galadima also alleged that the duo were drawn into the coalition under misleading assumptions tied to Atiku’s ambition.
Meanwhile, another source familiar with ongoing negotiations revealed that Obi and Kwankwaso are in advanced discussions with Seriake Dickson, ex-Bayelsa governor and founder of the proposed National Democratic Congress (NDC), as they explore an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
The source stressed that the timing of the defection is strategic, coming just weeks before party primaries, leaving little room for prolonged internal disputes.
The planned defection follows the recent Supreme Court of Nigeria ruling on the ADC leadership dispute, which has further complicated the party’s internal crisis rather than resolving it.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday updated its website to recognise David Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary of the party. The move reversed an earlier decision in April, when the electoral body removed the Mark-led executive in compliance with a Court of Appeal judgment.
However, in a unanimous decision, the apex court set aside the appellate court’s directive for parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and instead ordered that the substantive issues be returned to the Federal High Court for determination.
Despite INEC’s recognition of the Mark-led executive, the Supreme Court’s decision to remit the matter to the Federal High Court indicates that the dispute remains unresolved.
With less than a month to conduct primaries and submit candidates for the 2027 elections, concerns are mounting over the ADC’s capacity to present a united front.
Legal experts have similarly cautioned that the apex court ruling does not settle the leadership question but merely reopens the contest at the lower court, prolonging uncertainty within the party.
