Dumebi Kachikwu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has hijacked the party’s coalition framework ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also claimed that Labour Party’s Peter Obi is already considering pulling out of the coalition following concerns about its true motives.
Kachikwu made these assertions on Sunday during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics”, where he expressed deep reservations about the coalition’s direction and what he described as its “hidden agenda” to serve Atiku’s political interest.
“The whole ADC structure is being packaged for the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar,” Kachikwu declared. “Peter Obi has now come to the realisation that this coalition is not what it was made out to be. From all indications, he is looking in other directions. Other aspirants are also beginning to see that this was never about building a united front—it was about creating a platform for Atiku’s ambition.”
Kachikwu’s comments come just weeks after Peter Obi and other leading opposition figures joined forces with the ADC to relaunch it as a coalition bloc aimed at mounting a formidable challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. The coalition had been hailed as a much-needed alliance to unify Nigeria’s fragmented opposition landscape.
However, signs of internal tension surfaced almost immediately. Just two days after the coalition’s formal unveiling, Peter Obi announced his intention to contest the presidency again—without clarifying whether he intended to remain with the Labour Party or formally align with the ADC bloc.
Kachikwu, who has been vocal in his criticism of Atiku’s political strategy, said the former Vice President and his allies are attempting to dominate the coalition from behind the scenes while publicly projecting a façade of unity.
“What we are seeing now is elite manipulation, plain and simple,” Kachikwu said. “This is not a coalition of equals; it’s a hijacked platform. The ADC cannot and will not become a vehicle for Atiku Abubakar’s personal ambition.”
He added that the 2027 elections must not be another cycle of political recycling and deception. According to Kachikwu, Nigerians deserve a credible alternative that isn’t bound by the same old political elite.
“The people deserve better. The youth are watching, and they’re tired of being used. I intend to campaign vigorously to expose this kind of political exploitation. Nigerians must wake up to the reality that change won’t come from those who have held this country hostage for decades,” he said.
The ADC coalition’s credibility now hangs in the balance, as questions mount over whether it can genuinely serve as a neutral platform for all progressive candidates—or whether it is merely a disguised extension of the PDP establishment.
As 2027 approaches, opposition unity remains a moving target—complicated by personal ambitions, party loyalties, and a growing mistrust between leading political actors.
