ADC primary: Atiku poised for ticket as Obi, Amaechi jostle for running mate slot

The stage is set for the primaries of political parties ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Election, with key opposition figures aligning under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in a determined bid to unseat Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Unless unexpected developments disrupt the current order, the APC is expected to utilise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for party primaries, scheduled from April 23 to May 30, 2026, along with dispute resolution processes, to effectively endorse Tinubu as its candidate for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

With about a month to the commencement of primaries, none of the APC governors — many of whom harbour presidential ambitions — has formally declared interest. Instead, they have collectively backed Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate. Notably, on May 22, 2025, the then 22 APC governors unanimously endorsed him at the APC National Summit in Abuja.
According to reports, the motion was moved by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), and seconded by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. It received overwhelming support from top party figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
A similar endorsement is anticipated again, as Tinubu — benefiting from incumbency — currently enjoys the backing of 32 state governors and five Area Council chairmen in the FCT. There are also indications of quiet support from governors of opposition parties, further weakening the traditional opposition and strengthening the ADC’s emerging role.
If the present dynamics persist within the ADC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is widely expected to clinch the party’s presidential ticket. Having contested the presidency in 2007, 2019 and 2023, Atiku appears well-positioned for a fourth attempt.
Since his fallout with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and ran for president twice, Atiku has significantly influenced the ADC, leading many to view the party as being firmly under his control.
Regardless of the mode of primary — whether consensus, delegate-based, or direct — it appears unlikely that Atiku would lose the ticket to contenders such as former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi or former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
While Obi may command support across the South-East and parts of the South-South, South-West and North-Central, Atiku’s political network spans both the North and South, where he continues to wield considerable influence despite Obi’s strong showing in the 2023 election.
Meanwhile, Amaechi is working to consolidate support in the South-South and among loyalists of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the legacy parties that merged to form the APC in 2013.
Demonstrating resilience, Amaechi recently pressed on with his political mobilisation efforts despite reported attacks on his residence and party office in Obima, Rivers State, as well as an alleged assault on his convoy.
As in the lead-up to the APC’s 2022 primary — where he finished behind Tinubu — Amaechi has vowed to challenge both Atiku and Obi, asserting that he is the most qualified candidate and the only one capable of defeating Tinubu in 2027.
Although he insists he will not step down for any aspirant, Amaechi has pledged to support whoever emerges as the ADC candidate, in contrast to his stance during the 2022 elections when he neither endorsed nor campaigned for the APC flagbearer.
Both Obi and Amaechi have also pledged that, if elected president, they would serve only one four-year term (2027–2031), rather than the constitutionally permitted eight years. However, political analysts view such promises with scepticism, citing past precedents.
During the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, attempts were made to extend tenure beyond the constitutional limit through a proposed third term, which ultimately failed.
Similarly, following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010, then-Vice President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office under the “doctrine of necessity.” His subsequent re-election bid in 2015 was opposed by many in the North, who felt the region had been denied its turn under the informal rotation principle.
These historical experiences have made many northern stakeholders wary of trusting promises of a single-term presidency, fearing a reversal once power is secured.
As the ADC primary approaches, questions remain about the next steps for Obi and Amaechi if they fail to secure the ticket. While Amaechi has pledged loyalty to the eventual candidate, Obi’s position is less clear.
Speculation persists over whether Obi might align again with Atiku, as he did in 2019, or consider alternative political platforms if unsuccessful. His decision could prove pivotal, especially in a contest where internal party dynamics may determine the final outcome.
Ultimately, while Atiku and Amaechi appear set to contest the primary vigorously, Obi faces a more complex strategic choice — whether to remain in the race, accept a secondary role, or chart a different political path.
With the primaries fast approaching, the contest within the ADC is intensifying, and the clock is ticking decisively.

Source: Radarr