The African Democratic Congress has emphasised that every step involved in forming and endorsing the party as a coalition platform to oppose President Bola Tinubu in 2027 was firmly backed by legal principles.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, also stressed that the ADC’s foundation was built on a strong legal framework.
PUNCH Online reports that since ADC was launched as the coalition party on July 1, concerns have been raised by many Nigerians over potential internal conflicts, especially in managing the presidential ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former APC presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi, among others.
Answering questions on how the party intends to choose its presidential candidate, the ADC spokesperson stated that the party will not endorse any anointed aspirant.
He emphasised that ADC has no hidden agenda or preferred candidate, assuring all that the party will ensure a level playing field and a transparent process for the selection of its flagbearer.
“I have not heard Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar say if it’s not them, then it’s nothing. It’s their supporters or people who purport to speak for them that are saying this.
“Whether it’s Peter Obi or Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or any other aspirants on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, understand that this is democracy, and we are not going to anoint any aspirant or candidate.
“Like our chairman has emphasised, we don’t have a predetermined agenda. We don’t have any favourite candidates. We are going to provide a level playing ground and a transparent process for the emergence of our presidential candidate.
“I’m not aware, therefore, that any of these aspirants have directly said that it’s either them or they are no longer part of the coalition.
“It’s ok for supporters to continue to say what they want to say, but they don’t necessarily represent the sentiments of people that they claim to support. And that’s why we say that for us in ADC, we are going to maintain strict internal democracy.
“And if anybody has any preferred aspirants or candidates, what I would advise them is to get a membership card of the ADC so that they will be in a position to vote for these aspirants when the time comes to elect a candidate for the party”, he stated.[/b]
When asked about potential legal challenges facing the party since the formation of the coalition, Abdullahi assured all that the ADC had carefully taken legal precautions to prevent the ruling APC from exploiting any loopholes to destabilise the party.
Abdullahi said, “We’re not aware of any encumbrance. There’s no encumbrance as far as I know,” but, however, agreed that some individuals have gone to court.
“Yes, you are right, some individuals have said they are going to court or have gone to court. But like I repeatedly said, it’s possible that they don’t have the correct information. For us in the ADC, we are confident that we are on solid legal grounds in everything that we have done.
“This didn’t just happen overnight; it took a very long time because we knew the kind of challenges that we are faced with. And we know that once we leave any legal loophole, the ruling party will not hesitate to take advantage of it to destabilise our party the way they’ve done to other opposition parties,” he said.
