Politics
2027: Politicians with presidential ambition in ADC Coalition
The new opposition coalition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), continues to make headlines in Nigeria following its unveiling at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja earlier this week.
Following the adoption of the ADC as the coalition party, former Senate President, David Mark, and former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, were appointed interim National Chairman and interim National Secretary respectively.
The ADC Coalition, which includes prominent political figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), among others, has as its members, politicians like the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun; and former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, among others.
While the list of notable politicians with presidential ambition currently in the coalition seems inexhaustible, the unveiling of the coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sparked strong criticisms from the Presidency, the ruling APC, and, most recently, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
As the coalition party continues to gather momentum across the country, there seems to be more possible alignments and realignments across party lines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Therefore, Tribune Online takes a look at this coalition party of familiar faces and those who are likely to seek the party’s presidential ticket for a ‘showdown’ with the ruling APC’s President Tinubu:
1. Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is a very familiar face in the race for Aso Rock before Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
In 1993, Atiku contested the SDP presidential primaries but lost to Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe.
Atiku, who ruled the country as the number two citizen alongside then President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, left the PDP and contested the presidential election under the platform of the Action Congress (AC), against Shehu Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP who won the election.
The former Vice President showed interest in the number one seat in 2011 but lost the PDP ticket to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Ahead of the 2015 elections, Atiku also contested and lost the presidential ticket of the newly formed APC to General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
For another shot at the presidency in 2019, Atiku returned to the PDP and secured the party’s ticket but lost to the APC’s Buhari, who secured re-election.
In the last general elections — precisely 2023 — Waziri Adamawa ran again on the platform of the PDP, against Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC. Atiku was defeated by the incumbent President.
While Atiku has not openly declared his intention to let go of his over 20-year ambition of attempting to be Nigeria’s President, many consider him a possible candidate to fly the flag of the ADC Coalition in the 2027 presidential elections.
2. Peter Obi
This former Anambra State governor ran alongside Atiku Abubakar, as running mate, in the 2019 general elections where Nigerians re-elected the APC’s Muhammadu Buhari.
For 2023, Peter Obi joined the Labour Party and turned the presidential election into a three-horse race — keenly contested between himself, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, and the winner, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC.
Peter Obi’s first direct shot at the presidency made him a thorn in the flesh of the ruling APC due to his youth-led support base dubbed the ‘Obidient Movement’. Many also believe Obi’s candidacy was considered a South-East chance to rule the country since the return to democracy.
While Obi has not officially left the embattled Labour Party, his romance with the ADC Coalition positions him as one possible candidate for the party in 2027.
Tribune Online reports that the 2023 LP presidential candidate has submitted a proposal to the Opposition Coalition seeking a one-term presidency if given the ticket.
3. Rotimi Amaechi
Amaechi is one of the politicians in the ADC who had been in positions of power until 2023. Amaechi won a seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly in 1999 and subsequently became the House Speaker until 2007.
After his time as speaker, Amaechi became the Rivers State governor in 2007 and spent eight years in charge of the oil-rich state.
As one of the G-7 governors who worked against Jonathan for the 2015 general election, Amaechi joined President Buhari’s cabinet as a minister in 2015 and continued until 2023.
But ahead of the 2023 poll, precisely on April 9, 2022, Amaechi also declared his interest to contest the presidential primary of the APC but lost the ticket to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is now the incumbent president.
Like Peter Obi, Tribune Online reports that Amaechi has also declared readiness to serve a one-term presidency if considered to fly the flag of the opposition coalition against President Tinubu in 2027.
4. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Like Amaechi, Tambuwal has also been in position for over two decades. While Amaechi left in 2023, Tambuwal is still a serving Senator.
The man who spent 12 years in the country’s green chamber, the House of Representatives, was first elected in 2003. In 2011, Tambuwal became the 12th Speaker of the House and served until 2015.
Following his time as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal returned to Sokoto to become governor — a position which he held until 2023.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Tambuwal also declared interest in gunning for the number one political office in the country but later stepped down for Atiku at the May 2022 primaries of the PDP.
Subsequently, Tambuwal was given the party’s senatorial ticket for Sokoto South and has been at the Senate since 2023.
5. Dele Momodu
As a veteran journalist and politician, Dele Momodu was a chieftain of the opposition PDP until recently, when he disclosed his readiness to pitch a tent with the coalition against Tinubu.
The publisher of Ovation Magazine also ran for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections. However, he lost to Atiku Abubakar, who flew the party’s flag against Tinubu in 2023.
Although Dele Momodu has not declared whether he will also contest the ADC Coalition ticket against the likes of Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi, his previous attempt to secure the PDP ticket makes him one of the politicians with presidential ambition currently in the ADC.
While the above are listed based on their past declarations of interest in the presidency, there are many other politicians with presidential ambition currently in the ADC Coalition whose interest in the number one seat will be made known ahead of the party primaries. (Nigerian Tribune)
A High Court in Kogi has dismissed as false and misleading, a social media report alleging that it ordered the deregistration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
A statement issued on Thursday in Lokoja by the Court’s Chief Information Officer, Saqeeb Saeed, said it neither handled nor determined any case relating to the registration or deregistration of the party or any other political party in Nigeria.
It noted that the misleading publication was accompanied by photographs of the Chief Judge of Kogi, Josiah Majebi, and former Governor, Yahaya Bello.
It said that the photographs created what it described as a mischievous impression that the purported decision emanated from the high court.
The court noted that it would ordinarily not have responded to the publication but deemed it necessary to set the records straight.
It added that the report had the potential to undermine the integrity and dignity of the judiciary.
It urged members of the public, particularly content creators, to verify facts before publishing information capable of misleading the public.
The court warned that the dissemination of false information capable of tarnishing the image of judges and the High Court of Justice or other courts under its administrative control would no longer be tolerated.
It, therefore, urged the public to disregard the social media publication, reaffirming its commitment to dispensing justice fairly, diligently and without fear or favour. (NAN)
Njiko Igbo Forum, an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a stern warning ahead of the 2027 general elections, cautioning that it will be catastrophic should anything happen to Mr Peter Obi.
It could be recalled that Obi, on Wednesday, raised the alarm that his life was under threat.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, raised fears that he may not be alive in 2027 to be part of the election.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Rev Dr Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, Leader, Njiko Igbo Forum Nigeria, he warned that should anything happen to Obi or he was not in the ballot, the reaction and result would be very catastrophic.
Obioha said the caution was part of the decision taken during an emergency meeting held today, Thursday, in Enugu.
The Forum said, “That we have seen the viral video made by His Excellency, Mr Peter Gregory Obi, speaking on a number of issues, he expressed serious concern that his life is in danger.
“For him to have gone to the extent of saying he might not be alive before the 16th of January 2027, speaks volumes both in our polity and in the country at large.
“We have seen him in the past, spoke about the federal government trying to frustrate and targeting him not to be in the ballot.
“We have also observed over a period of time that the presidency or the federal government led by President Tinubu does not want Peter Obi to be in the ballot.”
While drawing the attention of the Presidency, Nigeria and the world to those allegations, Njiko Igbo Forum declared that “if anything happens to Mr Peter Gregory Obi or finally his name is not in the ballot for the 16th January, 2026 presidential election, the reaction and result will be very catastrophic and may adversely affect the continued unity in diversity of this country Nigeria.”
It further stated that the Igbo had been very quiet, pushed to the wall, segregated against, marked out everywhere, chased about and even tried to take their possessions.
Njiko Igbo Forum cautioned that keeping quiet does not mean the Igbo are cowards.
It said the ruling government should not forget that for any democracy to thrive, there must be a viral opposition in the polity.
“There is no reason, for what we have seen in the process or polity in trailing Peter Obi and going to an extent of chasing him through all the political parties and now wanting to kill him.
“This outcry by Mr Peter Gregory Obi, must not be taken lightly and request as a matter of urgent National importance, that an urgent investigation panel be constituted to verify Mr Peter Obi’s allegations.
“We are strongly stating again that, nothing should happen to Mr Peter Gregory Obi.
“Yes, Chief Awolowo said, before Nigeria he was of the Yoruba Nation. The same way we are saying before Peter Obi is of Nigeria, he is of the Igbo.
“Mr Peter Gregory Obi will live and become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2027,” it declared.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has cried out over alleged threat to his life.
Obi, who is a major contender ahead of the 2027 presidential election said he might not be alive to participate in the election.
According to him, there is obvious attack on everything that had to do with him, including his life.
The former Anambra state governor made the allegation during a podcast with Chude Jideonwo.
“The way they are going now I might not be alive, I’m telling you every single thing I do for a living this government is frustrating it deliberately so.
“Everything, so there’s even a possibility if they have opportunity I will not be alive. I get frustrations every day because you do things that may think it may be normal it is not normal they won’t come directly and say oh we are doing this but you could see their hand in eventually everything.
“The government is attacking everybody, I am being attacked personally even to provide me with things I am entitled to, not at all,” he said.
He recalled how his vehicle was clamped down at the airport while he was right there, whereas other vehicles lined up on the same spot were untouched.
Obi further that stated that even close associates were beginning to avoid him over fear of government clampdown.
He disclosed that friends now send him invitations for occasions but tell him not to bother attending.
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