The dust is rising, and all eyes are on the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC) as it gears up for the 2027 presidential election. With Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Rotimi Amaechi all reportedly eyeing the ADC 2027 presidential ticket, political watchers have begun to speculate about cracks, infighting, and looming chaos. But let’s pause for a moment and ask a better question: Is this a crisis, or is this what democracy is supposed to look like?
Paul Ibe, spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku, believes it is democracy in motion. He recently told Trust TV that the so-called bickering among the three heavyweights is not a fight but part of the political process. “It is the delegates of the party who are going to determine the fate of these leaders,” Ibe said.
Now that sounds like a conversation we need to have, not about who is fighting whom, but about how party delegates hold the power to decide who carries the ADC 2027 presidential ticket. If that isn’t a living example of people-powered politics, what is?
The So-Called Fight: Just Politics as Usual?
If you have followed Nigerian politics long enough, you know that drama is never in short supply. So when opposition titans like Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi started circling around the ADC, people didn’t just pay attention, they jumped to conclusions. Social media is awash with predictions, finger-pointing, and hot takes.
@TrulyDearest_ tweeted,
“Amechi is just for the show, the day of the primary he will collapse his ambition to Atiku. Where are his supporters?”
This view suggests that Amaechi’s presence is merely symbolic, a strategic move to boost Atiku’s standing. Another user, @ApexHodde, was more skeptical.
“Isn’t it obvious that these people want to select delegates and bribe them? Let’s fight for the kind of primaries we want before it’s too late.”
This user makes a passionate case for Peter Obi as the only formidable opposition figure against the APC in 2027. @mayeesq
Again, give Obi the ADC ticket. Bind him to an initial single tenure, if necessary. It’s both a demand and a plea. Let’s not waste this opportunity to give APC the boot. Absolutely no other line-up without Obi in the lead in 2027 will scare the APC or give them a good fight.
@ChukaMg · Replying to @mayeesq
Chuka highlights the regional sentiment about power rotation and argues that a northern candidate won’t get southern support.
There is no way on earth the South would vote for a northern candidate after eight years of Buhari. This is the opportunity we have all been looking for.
@NaijaGoldaMeir · Replying to @mayeesq
This user pushes back on the idea of a single-term presidency, pointing out the practical limitations of real reform within four years.
No one can be a president of Nigeria and make real change happen in 4 years. So anyone going in for a 4-year only mandate is doomed to fail.
@mayeesq
Mayeesq stands firm on the idea of a single-term presidency for Obi, despite pushback.
I don’t agree.
@NaijaGoldaMeir · Replying to @mayeesq
In response, this user insists that the argument is backed by historical facts.
You don’t have to. The evidence is there.
Yet amid the chatter, Paul Ibe reminds us that this coalition began with a shared understanding. “Everybody is being railroaded into a one-party state. It’s about choice,” he emphasized. He’s not wrong. The whole purpose of forming a coalition in the first place was to build a viable, people-centered alternative to the ruling party. So why panic now that people are declaring their intentions?
In truth, there is nothing unusual or dysfunctional about multiple aspirants showing interest in the ADC 2027 presidential ticket. If anything, it suggests that the party is strong enough to attract top-tier candidates a sign of vitality, not weakness.
Also Read: Hope or Hype? How Nigerians View the 2025 Coalition
Delegates: The Real Power Brokers?
So let’s talk about the real stars of this unfolding drama: the delegates, votes will ultimately decide who flies the ADC’s flag in 2027. They may not be as loud as social media warriors or as visible as political godfathers, but they carry the weight of this democratic process on their shoulders.
Paul Ibe said it clearly: whether the ADC conducts direct or indirect primaries, it’s the delegates who will settle the matter. This places enormous responsibility and power in their hands. And that’s where we, the citizens, should focus our energy. Instead of fretting over who gets the ADC 2027 presidential ticket, let’s ask: who are these delegates? How are they chosen? Are they accountable? Are they representative of the people’s voice?
Unfortunately, many Nigerians have grown cynical about primaries, often viewing them as rigged contests or platforms for the highest bidder. It doesn’t help that stories of delegate inducement, vote-buying, and strategic betrayals are all too common. That’s why the spotlight on delegates is not just timely; it’s crucial.
The ADC has a golden opportunity to restore faith in internal democracy. By ensuring transparency in delegate selection and primary processes, the party can turn this supposed “fight” into a model of democratic engagement. The competition between Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi shouldn’t scare us, it should inspire us to demand cleaner, more credible political processes.
Obi, Atiku, Amaechi: What Their Aspirations Say About the ADC
Let’s take a closer look at the players. Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor, is no stranger to challenging the status quo. He represents a new wave of politics one that appeals to the youth, urban voters, and reform-minded Nigerians. That he would consider seeking the ADC 2027 presidential ticket is a testament to his belief in coalition politics as a viable path.
Atiku Abubakar, on the other hand, is a veteran. With six presidential runs under his belt, he understands the terrain better than most. Some say his time is past; others argue he is one of the few with the political muscle to truly challenge Tinubu in 2027.
Then there’s Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister and ex-governor of Rivers State. He brings a different kind of energy: combative, strategic, and deeply enmeshed in national politics. His interest in the ADC ticket speaks volumes about how wide the opposition door has opened.
If these three men are willing to compete within the same platform, that says a lot about the ADC’s relevance. The question is no longer whether the ADC matters in 2027. It clearly does. The real question is: will it rise to the occasion, or will it crumble under the weight of its own ambitions?
Let the People and the Process Speak
@akerele_s
Akerele offers a deeply skeptical view of the coalition, predicting eventual betrayal and internal crisis.
My Prediction for 2027: Atiku will get the ADC ticket, but he will sell out – all he has to do is name his price. Obi will make noise because of the youth movement following him. He will quarrel with other members of their so-called coalition. His followers will insult, abuse, and threaten many members of the coalition. Then intra fights will begin and become normal. David Mark is still being haunted by the ghost of June 12, and he will ghost off rapidly from the coalition. Tebliq Aregbesola will lose out totally from the Ulamas apart the loss of his base in Alimosho. He has already been pushed out of Osun by the Adeleke dynasty. This is his final disgrace unless he makes amends and returns home to apologise. The great majority of progressives really do love him. Nasri El-Rufai will recede back to the North because that’s where his armor and armories are. Not many of the coalitions will trust him with power because of the well-known facts about him, and he will feel the heat. The anger in the North will subside sooner than later with the reality that the presidency is automatically zoned to them in 2031. They are very deft in political manoeuvrings and will always push for the best for themselves. Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Kwara, Kogi, etc. will be well guarded to avoid a recurrence of the 2023 and there will not be any sellout around. The South South people are in prayers and fasting for the completion of the coastal road project and have aligned with the vision of Mr. President.
Tinubu, the chess player, will triumph over them, and then the katakata will begin again until 2031 when a progressive Northerner will show up. – Bamofin Ogunjimi.
There’s no denying that the road to 2027 is already shaping up to be a high-stakes contest. But instead of fearing implosion within the ADC, we should embrace the vibrancy that competition brings. Democracy was never meant to be a choir where everyone sings the same tune. It thrives on debates, dissent, and difficult choices.
The buzz around the ADC 2027 presidential ticket shouldn’t be about who deserves it more. It should be about how the delegates, those chosen to represent the grassroots exercise their power. Will they reflect the will of the people? Or will the primaries become another episode in the long saga of political compromise?
Citizens have a role too. Join the parties. Attend town halls. Ask hard questions. Demand transparency. The ADC has offered itself as a vessel for real change. It’s time to test that promise.
As Paul Ibe rightly put it, this isn’t about fighting. It’s about democracy working the way it should. And in that system, the power truly lies with the people.
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