A fresh crisis appears to be brewing within the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly questioned the commitment and ideological grounding of key figures aligned with the bloc.
Speaking in a strongly worded interview, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi accused former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of lacking basic knowledge of the party’s policy direction, particularly on critical national issues such as fuel subsidy and security.
Abdullahi alleged that Obi and others within the coalition were merely positioning themselves to secure the party’s presidential ticket rather than engaging with its ideological framework.
“You may invite Peter Obi and ask him what is ADC’s position on fuel subsidy or its framework on security. He doesn’t know because he has never been interested. They are just waiting for the ticket to be handed over to them,” Abdullahi said.
“You may invite Peter Obi and ask him what is ADC’s position on fuel subsidy? what is ADC’s framework on security? He doesn’t know because he has never been interested. They are just waiting for the ticket to be handed over to them.”
– Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/6zmahljWRD
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) May 4, 2026
The ADC spokesman further criticised the broader opposition alliance, arguing that it had failed in its primary objective of building a unified political front capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, what currently exists is not a coalition of political parties but a loose gathering of individuals driven by personal ambition.
“If your objective was to unify the opposition, you haven’t done that. You’ve brought some opposition individuals together, but not the parties,” he said, noting that cracks have already begun to emerge, with key figures disengaging from the arrangement.
Abdullahi revealed that the ADC itself is now divided into three distinct camps.
He explained that the first group comprises politicians who see the party merely as a “Special Purpose Vehicle” (SPV) to contest elections. The second group, he said, consists of individuals committed to ending what they describe as the misgovernance of the APC-led administration. The third faction, according to him, is focused on building a sustainable political party grounded in ideology and long-term national transformation.
“There are those who are just looking for a platform to contest elections. That’s all ADC means to them,” he said. “Then there are those who genuinely want to rescue the country. And there are those who see this as an opportunity to build a real political party, not just an SPV.”
Defending the party’s internal processes, Abdullahi disclosed that the ADC had invested months in developing a comprehensive manifesto outlining its policy positions.
“We set up a manifesto committee that worked for two to three months to develop clear positions on what we will do differently,” he said, contrasting this with what he described as the lack of engagement by some aspirants.
He insisted that anyone seeking to run under the party’s platform must demonstrate a clear understanding of its policy agenda.
“If you say you want to contest election and you believe in changing the country, you should know what your party stands for,” he added.
Despite the internal disagreements, Abdullahi maintained that the ADC remains a viable platform for opposition politics ahead of 2027, describing the current tensions as a “temporary setback.”
He dismissed suggestions that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has a clear path to securing the party’s presidential ticket, despite his strong showing in the 2023 elections.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Abdullahi said, arguing that past electoral performance should not automatically determine future nominations.
He also referenced former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as another major contender within the political space, underscoring the competitive nature of the race.
Reiterating the party’s stance, Abdullahi stressed that the ADC would not be reduced to a vehicle for any individual’s presidential ambition.
“This party is not going to be an SPV for anybody,” he said. “What they wanted was an SPV, and we can’t give it to them.”