The African Democratic Congress has indicated plans to adopt a consensus arrangement in picking its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, as part of efforts to strengthen internal cohesion and reduce the cost of the process.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this on Saturday during his appearance on an Arise Television programme, “One-on-One,” where he outlined the party’s evolving strategy ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Abdullahi explained that while the party retains the option of conducting direct primaries, it is tilting strongly towards consensus as the most viable path. He added that indirect primaries had been ruled out in line with provisions of the amended Electoral Act.
According to him, the consensus model remains the most practical and cost-effective approach for the party at this stage, stressing that efforts are already underway to harmonise interests among key stakeholders to achieve that outcome.
“We are making deliberate efforts to arrive at a consensus because it is the least expensive option for us. Our ideal situation is to successfully build agreement across board, and that is what we are pursuing,” he said.
The ADC spokesperson also took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, arguing that its survival is largely dependent on its current leadership structure.
He asserted that the party could struggle to remain cohesive beyond the tenure of President Bola Tinubu, describing him as the central force holding the APC together.
Abdullahi further characterised the APC as a political platform primarily established to secure the presidencies of Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu, suggesting that the party may lose its relevance after achieving those objectives.
He also questioned what he described as signs of unease within the ruling party despite its dominance across the states and the National Assembly, alleging that such anxiety reflects fears about its electoral prospects.
According to him, the APC’s actions suggest a lack of confidence, as he claimed that the party might not prevail in a credible and transparent election, insisting that many Nigerians are dissatisfied with its performance.
Meanwhile, prominent political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi have been identified as potential presidential aspirants under the ADC platform ahead of the 2027 contest.
