Former presidential adviser Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has predicted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could experience a significant fallout if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar secures the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general election.
Baba-Ahmed made this statement on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the dynamics within the coalition-backed party and the ambitions of its prominent members.
He stated that Atiku is well-positioned to become the ADC’s candidate if the party holds a national convention, a scenario he believes would lead to a mass departure of disgruntled aspirants and supporters.
“If the ADC holds a convention, which it undoubtedly will, because that’s what former Vice President Atiku desires, he will secure the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed remarked.
“And then, many will leave, as a lot of people are in that party solely for the same reason. They want the ticket.”
He argued that the ADC currently accommodates numerous high-profile political figures whose interests are likely to clash once the process of selecting a presidential candidate commences.
Baba-Ahmed also mentioned the stance of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, suggesting that Obi’s political approach does not fit with competitive party primaries.
“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘Look at me, I’m not here for second place, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to represent,’ is that he has individuals who were initially whispering to him courteously,” he explained. “But now they are saying, ‘Join the queue. You’re not the only one with ambitions here.’”
He added that Obi is used to being selected as a consensus candidate rather than contesting against multiple aspirants.
“Peter Obi doesn’t engage in conventions. He simply attends to be anointed,” Baba-Ahmed said, suggesting that such expectations could heighten tensions within the ADC.
The former presidential adviser concluded that the outcome of the party’s convention could destabilise the coalition.
“So, the ADC will suffer after its convention because it is almost certain that former Vice President Atiku will win the ticket, and when he does, some people will depart,” he stated.
