January 21, (THEWILL) — Former spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has warned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could face a serious internal crisis if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu analyzed the internal dynamics of the coalition-backed party and the competing ambitions of its leading figures.
Baba-Ahmed asserted that Atiku is strongly positioned to clinch the ADC ticket once the party conducts its national convention, a development he believes could trigger mass defections by dissatisfied aspirants and supporters.
“If ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will, because that’s what former Vice President Atiku wants, he will get the ticket. And then, a lot of people will walk out because a lot of people are in that party only for the same thing. They want the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He noted that the ADC currently hosts several heavyweight political actors whose ambitions are likely to clash once the contest for the presidential ticket formally begins, potentially destabilizing the coalition.
Baba-Ahmed also commented on the political posture of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, suggesting that his style does not align with highly competitive party primaries.
He claimed that Obi is more accustomed to being adopted as a consensus candidate rather than contesting against multiple heavyweights in a primary election.
“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘Look at me, I’m not here for number two, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is that he has people who were initially whispering politely to him. But now they are saying, ‘Join the queue.
You’re not the only one with ambition here,'” Baba-Ahmed stated. He added that the expectation of being “anointed” rather than competing at a convention could further heighten tensions within the ADC.
Emphasizing that the party’s upcoming convention could mark a turning point for the opposition coalition, Baba-Ahmed concluded that the ADC will likely “bleed” after the event.
He warned that Atiku’s almost certain victory would lead to a significant walkout of other key members, leaving the party fractured ahead of the 2027 polls.
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