The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has confirmed it is in talks with other opposition parties about possible electoral alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, but says the discussions are not aimed at producing a single presidential candidate.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, amid renewed calls for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to step aside for Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
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Mr Abdullahi said the talks, facilitated by the G100 opposition unity initiative, focus on electoral cooperation, including protecting votes.
“Discussions are going on, but it’s not about a single presidential candidate or any such thing,” he said.
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“It’s about opposition political parties forming a common alliance towards the election.”
He explained that such cooperation could involve parties supporting one another in areas where they are politically stronger.
When asked whether the ADC was participating in the G100 initiative, Mr Abdullahi replied, “We are fully involved.”
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He cited recent visits by representatives of other opposition parties to Mr Abubakar as evidence of the consultations, adding that similar engagements had taken place with other presidential candidates.
However, he could not provide details of the progress made, saying the meetings were being conducted at the level of party chairmen and secretaries, and he had not been briefed.
He also said he was not privy to the work currently being undertaken under the G100 initiative.
G100’s broader agenda
G100 convenor Salihu Lukman has outlined a broader agenda that includes developing a framework for a common opposition presidential candidate.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Mr Lukman said the initiative had brought opposition parties together, with their leadership now driving the negotiations.
He said the opposition summit held on 31 August agreed to establish five working groups, including one tasked with developing options for producing a single presidential candidate.
“One of the working groups is the one that will work on that single consensus candidate,” he said.
According to him, participating parties would nominate representatives to the group, which would operate under agreed terms of reference and develop recommendations to guide further negotiations.
Mr Lukman acknowledged that producing a united front or a single candidate was not guaranteed, but expressed confidence in the parties’ willingness to cooperate.
While the ADC emphasises electoral alliances rather than negotiations over presidential tickets, the wider G100 framework includes consideration of a common candidate.
It remains unclear whether the relevant working group has been formally constituted or whether the participating parties have adopted any recommendations on presidential candidacy.
What has happened since the summit?
The G100-facilitated summit, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on 31 August, brought together representatives of six opposition parties: the ADC, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), NDC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The parties agreed to establish a Central Leadership Committee, alongside publicity and legal committees, to coordinate their activities.
They also proposed five working groups to develop recommendations on political cooperation, a common presidential candidate and other issues.
On 16 September, the Central Leadership Committee held its inaugural meeting and agreed on operational arrangements, including rotating the chairmanship among participating parties.
According to a statement Mr Lukman later issued, the parties were asked to nominate representatives to the committees and working groups by 18 September, with activities expected to begin later that month.
PREMIUM TIMES could not independently confirm whether all nominations were completed or whether the working groups had submitted their reports.
In a televised interview, Mr Lukman said consultations had expanded beyond the original six parties, though he did not name additional participants or announce a binding agreement.
He also said another working group would develop a minimum programme of action for participating candidates to subscribe to.
The proposed programme would draw from existing policy proposals rather than merge the parties’ manifestos.
Mr Lukman cited Mr Abubakar’s proposed domestic petroleum production subsidy as an example of a policy that could be developed into a clearer implementation framework.
Kwankwaso’s proposal
Opposition consultations have drawn fresh attention after Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NDC vice-presidential candidate, renewed calls for Mr Abubakar to abandon his presidential bid and support Mr Obi.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Mr Kwankwaso reaffirmed his position when asked whether he wanted the former vice-president to withdraw.
“Well, yes,” he replied, according to a report published by The Sun newspaper on Friday.
When PREMIUM TIMES sought clarification from Mr Abdullahi on Friday, the ADC spokesperson said the party had received no formal proposal for Mr Abubakar to step aside for Mr Obi.
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He also said no when asked whether the ADC was participating in negotiations to produce a consensus presidential candidate or had authorised discussions that could affect its existing presidential ticket.
The differing accounts leave an important question unresolved: whether the proposed framework for a common candidate will become part of the formal negotiations among participating parties.
For now, the ADC has confirmed its participation in G100-facilitated talks, while its spokesperson says the discussions concern electoral cooperation rather than negotiations over presidential tickets. Mr Lukman has outlined a wider process that includes developing options for a consensus candidate, but no agreement on such a candidate has been announced.
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