Southern stakeholders did not ask Atiku to quit 2027 race, says ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has discredited reports alleging that southern stakeholders urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.

On Tuesday evening, reports swirled that political leaders and stakeholders from southern Nigeria persuaded Abubakar to abandon his presidential ambition in support of a candidate from the region.

Abubakar was said to have rejected the demand, which was reportedly made during a closed-door meeting.

“I will not be pressured into abandoning my constitutional right to aspire. Let every qualified member test their popularity through a credible primary. Zoning must not be used to silence competence,” Atiku was quoted as saying.

However, when contacted on Tuesday night, Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson of the ADC, dismissed the reports as unfounded, saying no such meeting ever occurred.

“Nobody is having any such conversation,” Abdullahi told TheCable.

He said ADC members are “completely focused on building” the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘FAKE NEWS AND PROPAGANDA’

A source close to Abubakar also dismissed the report, describing it as fake news and “entirely baseless”.

“Who chaired the meeting? Where did the meeting take place? Who and who were at the meeting? It is fake and propaganda,” the source said.

“Trying to respond is tantamount to validating a nonsense.”

The source alleged that the report was orchestrated by the supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in an attempt to create uncertainty within the ADC.

Last week, opposition leaders unveiled the ADC as their coalition platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.

Several politicians cutting across party lines are members of the coalition.

They include former Senate President David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, ex-minister of interior, Abubakar, and Obi.

Others are Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation; Solomon Dalung, former minister of sports; and Odigie Oyegun, former national chairman of the APC.

There are also Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice; Dino Melaye; Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine; Enyinnaya Abaribe; Gabriel Suswan; Ireti Kingibe; Elisha Abbo; Uche Secondus; Tunde Ogbeha; Victor Umeh; Lauretta Onochie; and Liyel Imoke, among others.