Former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Vice President, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has cautioned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) risks serious internal division if former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Baba-Ahmed issued the warning during an interview, noting that although Atiku is well-positioned to clinch the ADC ticket, his victory could destabilise the party and lead to defections.
According to him, a national convention, which he said Atiku strongly prefers, would likely favour the former vice-president due to his political experience, nationwide network and influence within party structures.
“If the ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will because that is what former Vice-President Atiku wants, he will win the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said.
However, he warned that such an outcome could come at a heavy cost.
“The ADC will bleed after its convention because almost certainly Atiku will emerge, and when that happens, some people will walk out. The party will be severely damaged,” he added.
Baba-Ahmed also pointed to the ambitions of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as a potential source of further tension within the party. He said Obi’s supporters are increasingly pushing him to seek the presidential ticket outright, rather than accept a secondary role.
“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 because of the people around him,” Baba-Ahmed said.
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“They were initially whispering politely, but now they are saying, ‘Join the queue. You’re not the only one with ambition here.’”
He further argued that Obi’s political approach may not align with a competitive convention process.
“Peter Obi doesn’t do convention,” Baba-Ahmed said. “He goes where he is anointed.”
The former adviser concluded that a convention-based primary would heavily favour Atiku, raising concerns about whether the ADC can manage competing ambitions without fracturing as the 2027 elections draw closer.
