Former presidential adviser, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has warned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could be heading for serious internal turmoil if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Baba-Ahmed made this known on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he analysed the power dynamics within the coalition-backed party and the ambitions of its key figures.
According to him, Atiku is well-positioned to secure the ADC ticket once the party conducts its national convention, this is a development he believes could spark mass defections.
“If the ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will because that’s what Atiku wants, he will get the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said. “And when that happens, many people will leave because most of them are there for the same reason, they all want the ticket.”
He explained that the party currently plays host to several heavyweight political actors whose ambitions are likely to collide when the presidential selection process begins, making internal cohesion difficult to sustain.
Baba-Ahmed also weighed in on the stance of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, suggesting that Obi’s political approach may not align with the competitive nature of party conventions.
“One of the reasons Peter Obi keeps saying, ‘I’m not here to be number two, I’m not here for a convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is because he is used to a different political culture,” he said.
“Initially, people were politely encouraging him, but now they are telling him to join the queue that he’s not the only one with ambition.”
He further noted that Obi has often been accustomed to emerging as a consensus candidate rather than battling multiple aspirants at a convention.
“Peter Obi doesn’t really do conventions. He expects to be anointed,” Baba-Ahmed added, stressing that such expectations could heighten tensions within the ADC.
He concluded by warning that the outcome of the party’s convention could destabilise the coalition, predicting an exodus of disappointed members if Atiku eventually clinches the ticket.
“The ADC will bleed after its convention,” he said. “Because almost certainly, Atiku will win the ticket, and when that happens, some people will walk out.”
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