Cracks have emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following growing pressure from supporters of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, demanding that he clinch the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
Findings by Sunday PUNCH indicate that the tension is driven by the insistence of Obi’s followers popularly known as the Obidient Movement that he must be the party’s flagbearer or risk their exit from the coalition. The stance has unsettled some ADC leaders, particularly from the North, who are said to be uncomfortable with what they describe as the overbearing posture of Obi’s supporters.
Obi, a former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, officially joined the ADC on December 31, 2025, in Enugu, after the opposition coalition adopted the party as its platform. Prior to his defection, Obi had pledged to serve a single term if elected president and held alliance talks with the New Nigeria Peoples Party leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is being courted by the ADC for a possible joint ticket.
However, members of the Obidient Movement who defected from the Labour Party have maintained that Obi must be considered for the presidential slot, arguing that the South deserves to retain power for eight years before it returns to the North.
Prominent Obi loyalists have openly rejected the idea of him running as a vice-presidential candidate. Activist Aisha Yesufu, in a viral video following Obi’s defection, vowed to oppose the ADC ticket if Obi accepts a vice-presidential role. Similarly, political economist Pat Utomi said he would withdraw his support should Obi agree to be anyone’s running mate.
The hardline position of Obi’s supporters has reportedly fuelled hostility between his camp and that of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, another key figure in the opposition coalition. Atiku recently appealed to both camps to desist from verbal attacks, warning that such conduct undermines opposition unity.
Several ADC leaders have expressed concern over the development. A party leader in Abuja, who spoke anonymously, said some stakeholders were becoming uneasy about the growing rivalry between the camps, fearing it could weaken the party’s chances in 2027.
Confirming the party’s worries, a former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, said although tensions existed, they were being driven by a small fraction of Obi’s supporters. He insisted that Obi remained committed to party unity and warned that many of the divisive narratives circulating online were being pushed by individuals who were not members of the ADC.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, also cautioned against the “it’s-this-candidate-or-nothing” mindset, saying it could hand advantage to the ruling All Progressives Congress. He stressed that winning the election, not merely securing the ticket, should be the party’s priority.
Echoing similar concerns, Chairman of the ADC Chairmen’s Forum and Kogi State Chairman, Kingsley Ogga, said the insistence on Obi as the sole option was slowing the party’s progress. He noted that politics requires openness and competitive primaries, warning that rigid positions could fracture the party.
ADC National Treasurer, Ibrahim Mani, said the party was focused on building a credible opposition platform rather than advancing the ambition of any single individual.
In response, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, denied claims that the group was overbearing. He said the movement was simply promoting its preferred candidate within democratic norms and had advised members against antagonising other aspirants.
Tanko added that while winning the party primaries was important, the ultimate goal remained victory at the general elections, noting that the influx of Obidient supporters into the ADC was strengthening the party.
Meanwhile, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, an Obi loyalist, warned against attempts to restrict the expression of Obi’s supporters, arguing that open competition and visibility were essential for party growth.
As the 2027 race gathers momentum, the ADC faces the delicate task of managing internal ambitions while preserving unity within its expanding opposition coalition.
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