As political parties begin to realign ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it is not in a hurry to endorse any presidential candidate.
Instead, the party says its immediate focus is on building a strong ideological foundation that will shape its internal culture and guide future candidates.
Speaking on Thursday in response to growing public curiosity about the party’s potential flagbearer, the interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party would not repeat what it described as the “aberration” of politicians crafting personal manifestos that are disconnected from their party’s core values.
“Our priority is building a political party that can discipline its members and hold them to account. That’s what distinguishes strong parties from weak ones,” Abdullahi stated. “In the Second Republic, the Unity Party of Nigeria ensured its governors implemented free education—because that was the party’s ideology. That is the kind of discipline we want to restore.”
According to him, all aspirants, no matter their political stature or prior affiliations, would be expected to align with a unified party manifesto, which the ADC is currently developing through broad consultations and internal restructuring.
Amid rising public speculation that the party may be leaning toward notable political heavyweights like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, the ADC leadership dismissed the claims as premature.
