Leading presidential aspirants under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition — including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi — have agreed in principle to sign a pact pledging to support whoever emerges as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The proposed agreement, aimed at promoting party unity and avoiding internal divisions, will be based on a mutual understanding of what constitutes a transparent and credible primary process.
Former Minister of Transportation and key coalition member, Rotimi Amaechi, revealed this in an exclusive interview with newsmen.
He emphasized the need to define what a “transparent primary” truly means, warning that vague interpretations could allow the process to be hijacked.
“We agreed that whoever emerges through a transparent process will be supported by all. But first, we need to sit down and agree on what transparency actually means,” Amaechi said.
This development comes shortly after ADC interim national chairman, Senator David Mark, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to neutrality, declaring that no aspirant is being favoured.
He also promised a level playing field under his leadership.
The ADC ticket has attracted major political figures, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi both expressing interest in the 2027 race.
Atiku recently restated his ambition while denying reports that he had been asked to step down for a southern aspirant.
Meanwhile, Obi has also confirmed he intends to run and dismissed claims that he’s in talks to become a running mate.
Former APC presidential aspirant Amaechi has also thrown his hat into the ring under the ADC platform, signaling his intent to contest again after losing the APC ticket in 2023 to President Bola Tinubu.
However, the race has already sparked controversy. Former ADC presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu alleged that the party’s new leadership plans to hand the ticket to a northern aspirant, specifically Atiku — a claim that has revived the national debate over power rotation between the North and South.
Despite these tensions, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said he was unaware of any formal unity pact among aspirants but stressed that the party remains committed to fairness and transparency.
“I’m not aware of such an agreement,” Abdullahi noted.
“But I can assure you that the ADC will ensure a fair and transparent process for all aspirants.”
If finalized, the pact among the top contenders could shape the political landscape ahead of 2027, potentially creating a unified front under the ADC — provided the agreed primary process meets the expectations of all parties involved.
