A prominent northern political figure has stated that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi can only secure the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential nomination for the 2027 general elections if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar withdraws from the race.
Dr. Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and a former PDP governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program.
He emphasized that, given the current structure and dynamics within the ADC, Atiku would likely dominate any primary contest.
“I am not saying that Peter Obi cannot be the candidate of the party; however, he can only be the candidate of the party if Atiku steps down,” Ardo said.
He argued that repeated primaries would favor Atiku due to his established influence in the party.Despite this condition, Ardo described Obi as a significant asset to the ADC, noting that the former Anambra State governor commands control over more than six million votes, which could bolster the opposition platform’s strength against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Obi recently joined the ADC following discussions with party leaders. On December 31, 2025, during an event in Enugu alongside other South-East figures, he framed his move as the beginning of a renewed effort to rescue Nigeria from what he described as APC misrule, promising to oppose any attempts at coercion or intimidation of the opposition while advocating for inclusive socio-economic progress.
The ADC has emerged as the vehicle for a broader opposition coalition that includes Atiku, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Senate President David Mark.
Ardo’s comments highlight ongoing tensions and strategic calculations within the opposition alliance as aspirants position themselves ahead of the 2027 polls.
Atiku has previously dismissed calls for any aspirant to step down, insisting that all qualified contenders should participate in open primaries.
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