There are concerns that the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, may leave the opposition coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), over the plans of ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to contest for the presidency in the 2027 election.
Bellnews learnt that many of the initial promoters of the ADC coalition, including Nasir El-Rufai, are beginning to develop cold feet, due to disagreements over Atiku’s insistence on securing the party’s presidential ticket, which may affect the party’s ability to make an impact in 2027.
El-Rufai, who championed a southern presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is reportedly insisting that the presidency must remain in the South until 2031.
While former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi are the aspirants from the South who have indicated their interests in the 2027 presidency, it is unclear who El-Rufai is backing.
A member of the party’s interim management team, who spoke on condition of anonymity to BusinessDay in Abuja, lamented that Atiku’s plan to contest the 2027 election will ruin the chances of the ADC.
The ADC official, however, said that the party will not stop the former vice president from contesting, noting that “the party will give everyone a level-playing field.”
The source added, “The ambition of the former vice president may weaken the party, unless he agrees to back down.
“Yes, everybody is enthusiastic about the new coalition and the opportunity it will give Nigerians to elect leaders of their choice in 2027, but the plans by Atiku Abubakar to contest may ruin our chances.
“As you know, Nasir El-Rufai insisted and made way for the emergence of President Bola Tinubu in 2023. As we speak, he has continued to maintain that position and will only back a southern candidate in 2027.”