Crisis is brewing in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as many leaders in the South-West have accused its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of sidelining the party structure.
The aggrieved leaders, including state chairmen and governorship candidates, allege Atiku is running his campaign through personal friends and loyalists instead of recognized party executives.
According to Sunday PUNCH, the development is causing disaffection and slowing campaign activities in the region – considered a stronghold of President Bola Tinubu and a key battleground for 2027. In 2023, Tinubu won Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, while Atiku (then PDP) won Osun and Peter Obi won Lagos.
Ibadan Meeting:
On September 4, ADC governorship candidates met in Ibadan and complained to National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. They demanded Atiku must channel activities through the party structures that produced candidates for 2027.
One candidate said: “The meeting was hot. We told the secretariat through Aregbesola that Atiku must respect the party structure.”
Following complaints, Atiku held a virtual meeting September 5, reaffirmed loyalty and asked each South-West state to submit 5 names for his campaign committee, promising change. But leaders say little has changed.
A party official also alleged that 6 South-West chairmen who met Atiku in Abuja on September 17 were not even given transport fare.
ADC leadership has dismissed claims of rift, saying building broad coalitions is standard strategy.