Some watchers have also flagged the potential clash of ambitions among the contenders as a likely obstacle to the success of the coalition
The growing 2027 presidential ambitions of key political figures in the newly unveiled African Democratic Congress, ADC, are causing deepening divisions among supporters and stakeholders within the political coalition.
This is even as political maneuvers and behind-the-scenes consultations have ignited heated debates, especially on social media, among coalition supporters and intensified power struggles within the alliance. …CONTINUE READING
Some watchers have also flagged the potential clash of ambitions among the contenders as a likely obstacle to the success of the coalition.
DAILY POST reports that with less than two years to the next general election, the ADC-led coalition faces an uphill battle, not just against the All Progressives Congress, APC, or the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but against internal disunity.
As it stands now, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi are the leading aspirants to challenge President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027.
Though Atiku has not officially declared his intention to run, the duo of Obi and Amaechi have announced their interest to wrestle power from Tinubu.
Party insiders informed DAILY POST that factions are already being formed within the coalition, with some rooting for Atiku, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate; others pledging loyalty to Obi; and a third bloc leaning towards Amaechi, a former governor and ex-Minister of Transportation under the APC.
Supporters clash on social media
The growing division has spilled over into social media platforms, where supporters of the three political figures are engaging in verbal battles over who deserves to lead the proposed alliance.
Over the weekend, social media platforms were awash with debates as both leaders’ loyalists exchanged salvos in defence of their preferred candidates.
Pro-Obi groups have suggested that the coalition won’t achieve meaningful impact if it fails to name Obi as its candidate, while Atiku supporters argue that he remains the most experienced and widely accepted figure across regions.
Speaking to DAILY POST in an interview, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, said the supporters of the three top aspirants could be a blessing, as well as a curse to them.
Odo suggested that supporters of Mr Peter Obi might pose a different kind of threat to the coalition, noting that Obi is not in control of his supporters.
According to him, those supporting Atiku will only pose minimal challenges to the coalition.
Odo said: “The supporters of the three top aspirants can be a blessing as well as a curse to the aspirants. Parties are built not mainly by the political aspirants but by the citizens who buy into the ideologies and / or sensations of the leading proponents of the party.
“Currently, ADC is like an arranged marital union. The spouses are like strange bedfellows. Creating the union is where the ambitions of the fellows will be tested against their desires for a Nigeria different from the one led by Tinubu. This should not be hard for the aspirants as most of them have worked together in the recent past: Atiku with Obi in 2019 under PDP; El Rufai, Amaechi, and Atiku in 2015 under APC.
“Once they settle up there, supporters of most of the aspirants will easily fall along. Amarchi’s support base is currently weak compared to those of Obi and Atiku, who flew their party flags in 2023 and performed highly in the polls. So, supporters of Amaechi won’t post challenges to ADC.
“Supporters of Atiku, on the other hand, will pose minimal challenges. The nature of their challenge will be far different from that of Amaechi and Obi.
“Atiku’s support base are traditional politicians, mostly people who survive by being in the corridors of power. These persons will not be hard to convince to work for ADC. They will gladly work for the coalition, no matter who flies ADC tickets.
“They’ll do this as long as they’re well taken care of, in terms of instant benefits. They’ll only become a threat to ADC if the party fails to oil their palms. This group of supporters will not Bath eyelids before switching allegiance to APC.
“Supporters of Peter Obi will pose a different kind of threat to the coalition. Unlike most candidates, Obi is not in control of his supporters. It is more like his supporters are in control.
“The Obidients are an amorphous group of individuals, mostly young, who are dissatisfied with the old order of doing things in Nigeria. They want something different, and Obi happens to represent that something new and different, to a greater percentage.
“If ADC fails to field Peter Obi in 2027, ADC will lose the Obidients, and not even Obi himself can convince the Obidients to support another candidate.
“To me, this is the greatest opportunity and dilemma facing ADC.”
-Source: Daily post
