Former presidential adviser, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has warned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) risks internal crisis if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Baba-Ahmed made the assertion on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today*, where he analysed the power play and ambitions within the coalition-backed party.
According to him, Atiku is well positioned to clinch the ADC presidential ticket if the party proceeds to a national convention, a development he believes would lead to mass defections by disgruntled aspirants and their supporters.
“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 many people are in that party for the same reason – they want the ticket.”
He noted that the ADC currently harbours several high-profile politicians whose ambitions are likely to clash once the process of picking a presidential flagbearer begins.
Baba-Ahmed also spoke on the position of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, suggesting that his political approach may not fit into a highly competitive party primary.
“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘I’m not here for number two, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is that people who were initially whispering politely to him are now saying, ‘Join the queue,’” he said.
He added that Obi was more accustomed to being adopted as a consensus candidate rather than contesting against multiple aspirants.
“Peter Obi doesn’t do convention. He just goes there to be anointed,” Baba-Ahmed said, warning that such expectations could heighten tensions within the party.
He concluded that the outcome of the ADC convention could destabilise the coalition, insisting that Atiku’s victory would likely trigger an exodus.
“So, the ADC will bleed after its convention because almost certainly Atiku will win the ticket, and when he does, some people will walk out,” he added.
