2027: Atiku Steps In to Quell ADC Rift as Obi Supporters, Loyalists Clash Over Presidential Ticket

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has moved to douse growing tensions within the opposition coalition following sharp exchanges between his supporters and backers of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi over the 2027 presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The intervention comes amid weeks of heated debates, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), since Obi defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ADC in December. Obi said the move was aimed at strengthening the opposition and building a platform capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges and unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Since Obi’s entry into the ADC coalition, members of the Obidient Movement have intensified calls for Atiku to step aside and support Obi’s presidential ambition. The push has, however, triggered stiff resistance from Atiku’s loyalists, fuelling internal friction and raising concerns over the coalition’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 general election.
On Tuesday, Atiku publicly appealed for restraint, warning that attacks on either camp only weaken the opposition and ultimately benefit the APC.
In a post on X, the former vice president urged supporters to end what he described as a self-inflicted “civil war” within the ADC coalition.
“Anyone who insults Obi or Atiku do not mean well for the leaders, the Coalition ADC and for Nigeria and Nigerians. The only persons who benefit from such a civil war are the APC urban bandits who want to maintain the satanic status quo. We are better together!” Atiku wrote.
Atiku was responding to a post by an X user, identified as “Everest,” who accused Atiku’s supporters of attacking Obi while expecting immunity from criticism. The user later acknowledged Atiku’s intervention, agreeing that subtle attacks on Obi by some of Atiku’s supporters had contributed to the growing tension.
Earlier, ADC chieftain and Atiku ally, Dele Momodu, also raised the alarm over the rising hostility within the party, warning that unchecked infighting could derail the coalition before it fully consolidates.
In a post titled “My Candid Advice to ADC: Avoid Another Wike Scenario,” Momodu cautioned the party’s leadership against allowing aggression and entitlement to take root within the coalition. He stressed that the ADC was adopted as a voluntary platform anchored on internal democracy, not imposition.
“No group or individual should be allowed to cause chaos,” Momodu warned, adding that attempts to secure the party’s presidential ticket through “donation and coronation” rather than persuasion and credible primaries would weaken the coalition. He likened the unfolding tensions to the internal crisis that fractured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cautioning against turning the ADC into what he described as “a Fuji house of commotion.”
Much of the disagreement within the coalition has centred on zoning and succession. Obi’s supporters have continued to argue that the ADC should zone its presidential ticket to the South, citing the eight-year tenure of former president Muhammadu Buhari and prevailing public sentiment.
Both Atiku and Obi have signalled interest in contesting for the ADC presidential ticket, intensifying manoeuvres by their respective supporters. However, the party leadership has downplayed zoning debates, insisting that its immediate focus is on strengthening internal structures.
Earlier, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the party was more concerned with repositioning itself as a credible alternative to the APC than zoning. He noted that expanding the party’s reach and internal capacity remained the priority.
Despite Atiku’s call for calm, divergent views on the likely outcome of the ADC primaries persist. A former PDP governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr Umar Ardo, said Obi’s chances of clinching the ticket are slim if Atiku remains in the race.
Speaking on Channels Television, Ardo described Atiku as the dominant force within the coalition and the clear favourite to emerge as the ADC flagbearer.
“The ADC, as it is currently constituted, if it goes for primaries a hundred times, Atiku will win a hundred times,” Ardo said, adding that Obi could only secure the ticket if Atiku voluntarily steps down.
He nevertheless acknowledged Obi’s electoral strength, describing his support base as a major asset to the coalition. According to him, Obi “controls more than six million votes,” making him central to the ADC’s 2027 calculations.
Meanwhile, pressure from Obi’s allies continues to mount. Some supporters have warned against Obi accepting a vice-presidential slot under any coalition arrangement. Political economist Pat Utomi has threatened to withdraw support if Obi agrees to be a running mate, while activist Aisha Yesufu and leaders of the Obidient Movement have publicly insisted that Obi must contest the presidency.