Peter Obi’s alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) appears to be facing fresh tension, raising doubts about the coalition’s stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC, launched in July with political heavyweights including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-governors Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai, was initially seen as a major shift in opposition politics. Obi joined the coalition with strong grassroots support from his Obidient movement, positioning himself early as a presidential contender despite still being a Labour Party member.
Obi repeatedly promoted the ADC as a platform capable of delivering his “New Nigeria” vision and insisted he would contest for president—not as Atiku’s running mate. He also urged the North to trust him, promising to tackle insecurity and proposing a single-term presidency to balance regional interests.
However, Obi’s push for zoning and his reference to “unsigned agreements” within the coalition have unsettled ADC leaders. He argued that issues around power rotation and office distribution must be resolved to keep the party “organised.”
In response, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi cautioned Obi to “calm down,” stressing that zoning is not yet under consideration. Abdullahi criticised Obi’s choice of words and suggested the former governor needed to contribute more to building the party—especially in the South-East, where ADC remains weak.
Despite Obi’s popularity, the ADC’s performance in Anambra has been poor, with its candidates finishing far behind in recent elections. The party insists that its presidential ticket will be determined by primaries, not by external pressure or popularity.
Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar has formally joined the ADC and is holding strategic meetings in the North, fuelling speculation that he may be positioning himself as the party’s preferred presidential candidate.
With zoning disagreements, questions about party loyalty, and rising competition within the coalition, Obi faces a critical decision: secure the ADC ticket, reconcile with Atiku, or return fully to the Labour Party. The alliance that once appeared promising is now showing signs of strain—yet the political contest is far from over.
