Mass exit likely in ADC if Atiku emerges flagbearer – Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former special adviser on political affairs in the office of the vice-president, says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could face internal collapse if Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

Baba-Ahmed spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television.

He said Atiku is well-positioned to secure the ADC ticket if the party holds a national convention.

“If ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will, because that’s what former Vice-President Atiku wants, he will get the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“And then, a lot of people will walk out because a lot of people are in that party only for the same thing. They want the ticket.”

He said the ADC currently hosts several prominent political figures whose ambitions would inevitably clash during the selection process.

Baba-Ahmed said the party’s internal balance could be further strained by the expectations of Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state.

“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘Look at me, I’m not here for number two, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is that he has people who were initially whispering politely to him,” he said.

“But now they are saying, ‘Join the queue. You’re not the only one with ambition here.”

The former political adviser said Obi is more accustomed to being adopted as a consensus candidate than contesting competitive primaries.

“Peter Obi doesn’t do convention. He just goes there to be anointed,” he said.

“So, the ADC will bleed after its convention because almost certainly former Vice-President Atiku will win the ticket, and when he does, some people will walk out, it will be severely damaged.” (The Cable)