Paul Ibe, the media aide to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has disclosed those who will decide the fate of those seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, coalition.

Ibe disclosed that delegates will decide the fate of Atiku, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, who are expected to battle for the presidential ticket of the ADC.

Speaking on Trust TV, Ibe said the leaders already reached a compromise on the need to make sacrifices before the coalition was launched.

After the unveiling of ADC as the coalition’s platform, Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi hinted on running for the presidency on the party’s platform.

However, Ibe said the contest will be democratic.

He said: “It is the delegates of the party, whether it is a direct or indirect primary, they are the ones who are going to determine the fate of these leaders.

“All of these two fighting or three fighting will be settled by the delegates.

“Maybe it’s because of the fact that we lost the essence of what democracy is all about because of what Tinubu and his administration has been doing.

“Everybody is being railroaded into a one-party state. It’s about choice, people have the right to choose.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, over a claim that the opposition is plotting to “overthrow” President Bola Tinubu.

In an X post on Monday, Onanuga said some critics were conspiring to bring down the “most focused, most transformative” in Nigeria’s history.

“Emir Sanusi warned Nigerians what to expect from President Tinubu’s reforms,” Onanuga wrote while quoting a video on X.

“‘It’s not going to be easy,’ he said. ‘If anybody tells you it would be easy, don’t vote for him.’

“Just two years after Tinubu began implementing the reforms, the haters of Nigeria’s progress are banding together to overthrow an administration that has been the most focused and most transformative in our history.”

Reacting to the post in a statement on Wednesday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC spokesperson, described the comment as “reckless and an attempt to create a false narrative” to justify a crack down on opposition leaders.

“This tweet by Bayo Onanuga is a textbook example of a political dog whistle. The APC-led federal government appears to be constructing a false narrative designed to justify a clampdown on dissent and to criminalise legitimate opposition under the guise of national security,” the statement reads.

The ADC said it has no interest in destabilising the country, noting that its commitment to change is anchored solely on democratic means.

“We are not soldiers, we are politicians. We don’t have bullets; we only have the ballots. When the time comes, we will present our solutions and an alternative vision for Nigeria, and allow the people to decide.”

The party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC), which once gained power through opposition politics, of being intolerant of dissent.

“It is surprising that a party that came into office as an opposition now finds it strange that others exist to play the same role,” the statement added.

The ADC asked Tinubu to rein in his aides, warning that unsubstantiated claims could stoke tension ahead of the 2027 general election.

“This manner of crying wolf where there is none does not make the president look good. It only betrays a sense of panic within the government,” Abdullahi added.

The ADC spokesperson also urged Nigerians to remain alert to alleged attempts to delegitimise alternative voices and restrict political freedoms.

Abdullahi further called on the international community, democratic governments, and rights groups to closely monitor Nigeria’s political climate and hold the federal government accountable for any suppression of civil liberties.

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: One of the leaders of the African Democratic Congress ADC, Mallam Salihu Moh. Lukman, has declared that the party’s standard bearer in the 2027 presidential election will emerge through a transparent primary election, saying the party has no special preference.

This was as he disclosed that anyone who emerges as candidate of the party would be supported by all to avoid the pitfalls of the past.

Speaking when he appeared Tuesday morning on a Channels TV programme monitored in Abuja, the former All Progressives Congress APC national vice chairman for the Northwest, also appealed to supporters of various leaders of the coalition to join hands with the ADC to rescue Nigeria.

He said once the opposition leaders are divided, it is as much as granting victory to APC and President Bola Tinubu.

“So, as much as possible, we must keep the opposition together, and in keeping the opposition together, it is not about asking anybody to step down.

“And I appeal to the Obidients and other groups, to really understand that the ADC and the coalition is the home for them and they should come and let us build ourselves together.

“If Peter Obi emerges as the presidential candidate of ADC, we will all support him and strengthen him to overcome the shortcomings of the past. So also, any other, if it is Atiku Abubakar who emerges, for instance, we will support him and strengthen him in such a way that he doesn’t repeat the mistakes of former President Buhari.

“So, I think these are issues which as Nigerians, we must be very
honest and frank in engaging them if we are going to move this country forward. This is the kind of debate we want to have in ADC.

“Everybody will slug it out in the presidential primary, apparently”, he said.

According to him, the ADC would also factor in the issue of equity in its deliberations, saying the party will accommodate everyone.

“I always put forward to them that, look, as far as I am concerned, it is not a question of trusting leaders. I mean, leaders must earn the trust. So the best way leaders can earn trust is to be able to show humility that they are ready to subordinate themselves to the wishes of members of the party.

“Coming from APC, having a situation where we trusted leaders and they ended up becoming emperors today. Look at what is happening in APC. Everywhere you hear ‘on your mandate, on your mandate, on your mandate,” I am not going to stand on anybody’s mandate.

“We want the person to always subordinate himself to members of the party, always seeking to get clearance in terms of what they are doing. That is the kind of template that we are looking for. And I think as Nigerians, we must resist the temptation of setting up leaders in a way that they become very arrogant, believing that it is either them or nothing. That is the kind of negotiation that is right now going on within the coalition and it is a very difficult negotiation, I must confess, but we are very confident that in the end, we will succeed in presenting a common candidate.”