…as Mark insists on membership, open primaries
Uncertainty is now clouding the future of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its emerging coalition, as key political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, are reportedly stalling their official membership over disagreements regarding the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections.
A source stated this formed part of the focal discussions of the recent stakeholders meeting attended by the Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Isa Ali Pantami, Rauf Aregbsola, amongst others with Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi absent from the meeting.
Inside sources told NewsDirect that all may not be well within the proposed coalition, suggesting deep structural friction that threatens to undermine the effort to consolidate opposition forces.
This delay comes even as former Senate President David Mark, a central figure in brokering the coalition, continues to insist on immediate membership registration and adherence to a strict process of open primaries.
The insistence on transparent internal democracy appears to clash with the aspirations of the big-name entrants, who are wary of committing fully without clearer assurances on who will ultimately fly the party’s flag at the national level.
The lack of commitment from figures like Atiku and Obi signals a critical impasse that could fracture the nascent opposition alliance before it fully takes shape.
The core of the problem lies in the difficulty of reconciling the ambitions of these influential politicians, each possessing a significant national following and a history of leading major political campaigns.
While the coalition’s objective is to unite opposition strength against the ruling party, the current hesitation shows that the immediate priority for many leaders remains securing the presidential nomination, rather than strengthening the party structure first.
The prolonged delay in formalizing membership suggests that private negotiations over the ticket remain paramount, placing the coalition’s long-term viability under severe strain.Rising from a closed door meeting with Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mark was said to have told Jonathan to formally register as a member of the ADC and contest in its primaries if he wished to secure the party’s nomination, stressing that no candidate would be handed a ticket outside due process. Both men agreed to revisit the matter at a later date.
“The fear is that joining ADC without guaranteed backing could leave them stranded if they don’t win the primaries,” one insider explained.Atiku’s influence reportedly looms large, with sources estimating that he controls between 65 and 70 per cent of the party’s structure.
“This dominance has made it difficult for ADC leaders to assure either Jonathan or Obi of a clear path.Speculation of a possible Atiku-Obi ticket has surfaced, but Obi has consistently insisted on power shifting to the South for equity, vowing to serve only one term if elected.
He has also told party leaders he would not contest primaries against Atiku, especially in Adamawa State, making such a pairing unlikely unless Atiku drops his ambition.
Jonathan, meanwhile, is viewed by some stakeholders as a compromise candidate since the Constitution permits him only one more term in office an advantage that appeals to certain northern blocs. However, his traditional South-East base has largely shifted to Obi, weakening his chances.
“He has two major challenges getting the ticket handed to him and winning northern support,” a party source said.
