The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has finally opened up on why Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai are yet to formally defect to the party, despite being central figures in its newly formed opposition coalition.
Bolaji Abdullahi, Interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, disclosed at a weekend media briefing in Abuja that both politicians are completing internal electoral obligations in their current parties before officially crossing over.
“They’ve been allowed to finalise outstanding elections and internal candidate selection processes such as by-elections and governorship primaries—within their legacy parties,” Abdullahi explained.
He, however, reaffirmed their loyalty to the ADC coalition, stating that both men remain deeply committed to the broader opposition agenda leading into 2027.
“There’s no doubt about their commitment to the coalition. The structure we’re building goes beyond parties—it’s about rescuing Nigeria,” he added.
Amid public speculation and internal murmurs, Abdullahi also denied rumours of legal instability or internal manipulation within the ADC.
“We are not a party built on confusion or chaos. We’ve carefully tied all loose ends and closed legal loopholes that the ruling party could exploit,” he stated.
On the issue of a possible preferred presidential candidate, he assured that the ADC will conduct a transparent and democratic primary, stressing that no single individual or interest group is being positioned above others.
“Let it be clear: There is no anointed candidate. The ADC isn’t a vehicle for one man’s ambition. We are offering a platform where everyone has a fighting chance,” he said.
As Nigeria’s political landscape braces for the 2027 election storm, it’s becoming clear that the battle for dominance is shifting from loyalty to legacy and the ADC is positioning itself as the new home for heavyweights.
