Author: kayode amuda

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced concern over what it called the growing “conundrum” involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the statement on Friday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, noting that the issue, though not the “greatest threat to democracy,” remains a significant challenge the party must address.

The presidential ambitions of both Atiku and Obi have cast doubts over the ADC coalition.

Abdullahi said the ADC is currently focused on strengthening its structures nationwide rather than discussing potential presidential candidates.

He explained that the party is working to establish a strong presence across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as part of its preparations for the election cycle.

According to him, while the Atiku-Obi question is one of the matters the party must eventually resolve, the ADC will prioritise building consensus when the time comes. If consensus fails, he added, the contest would be open to all aspirants.

Abdullahi clarified that the race is not centred solely on Atiku and Obi, as other individuals have also indicated interest in seeking the party’s presidential ticket, noting that the ADC is exploring multiple options, including discussions with other political parties, to form a formidable coalition ahead of 2027.

He said: “I may not describe the situation in such superlative terms to say that it’s the greatest threat to democracy at the moment. But is it a conundrum? Yes. Is it a challenge? Yes. Is it something we are concerned about? Yes.

“I agree with you it’s an option. But there are also other options that we are looking at, even within the other political parties that we are also having conversation about how to build a formidable coalition to see what is possible.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign is veering dangerously off track and evolving into an outright political witch-hunt.

Atiku warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and other anti-graft bodies to purge themselves of partisan contamination before they permanently lose the trust of Nigerians.

He was reacting to the arrest and detention of a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

In a statement signed by his media team, titled: “Anti-Corruption Fight Has Derailed Into a Full-Blown Political Witch-Hunt,”

Atiku said the anti-graft agency is “straying far from the noble principles upon which it was created. Instead of upholding justice,” he said, “the agency is now weaponising its powers to serve narrow political agendas.”

According to him, “The politicisation of corruption investigations has rendered the EFCC’s credibility suspect and rubbished the very ideals that inspired its establishment.

“The EFCC, now operating like a political rottweiler, is deployed to intimidate and coerce politicians into joining the APC. And once they bow to pressure, their corruption cases mysteriously vanish.”

The former Vice President said the selective pursuit of Malami by the EFCC was “shameless.”