Atiku Meets ADC Southeast Leaders Ahead of Party Primaries

• Ardo: ADC frustrating ADA’s registration

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has held a strategic meeting with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the South East and other prominent Igbo figures, signalling possible political collaboration ahead of the ADC presidential primary.

Details of the meeting shared by the ADC in a statement described it as “crucial” in charting the party’s strategic direction and potential alliances as the party prepares to navigate the 2027 presidential primaries.

“The meeting, which took place on Tuesday night behind closed doors at the Abuja residence of Chikwe Udensi, was attended by a high-profile roster of party and regional leaders.

“Those in attendance include Senator Augustine Akobundu, Chief Chekwas Okorie, former Minister of State for Education Emeka Nwajiuba, Dr Osita Oruche, Prof. Onyi Nwagbara, Chief Uchenna Okogbuo, former ADC National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, Hon. Uzoma Abonta, Hon. Uko Nkole, Etigwe Uwah, Dr Steve Nwadiuko, Chief Morris Eboh, Senator Frank Ibezim, and Dr Dave Eboh,” the statement read.

The timing of the meeting came as political parties across Nigeria faced a 91-day deadline—ending May 30—to conduct and finalise primaries for candidates, following the release of a revised timetable for the 2027 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Ardo: ADC Frustrating ADA’s Registration

The promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Umar Ardo, has accused the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), of deliberately frustrating efforts to secure registration for ADA by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ardo made the allegation yesterday, while fielding questions on The Morning Show of Arise Television.

He explained that the initial strategy of the opposition coalition was to pursue two parallel options, fusing into the ADC as a national opposition platform while simultaneously pushing for the registration of ADA as a backup.

According to him, members committed to the registration of a new political party were tasked with pursuing ADA’s approval from INEC, with the understanding that both groups could later align.

Ardo said the arrangement was designed to provide a fallback option in case either platform encountered challenges.

However, he alleged that the ADC leadership has now taken steps to obstruct ADA’s registration process.

“Well, the initial idea was that, let us take two positions at the same time while we fuse into ADC, that is the national opposition coalition, those who are committed to the registration of the political party now go in to register the ADA and that at a later time, we might meet somewhere in the field.

“If ADC encounters problem, ADA is always there for ADC. If ADA encounters a problem and could not be registered, they could always move into the ADC.

“Now this could have gone in very well harmoniously. But with the situation, it is apparent that the ADC leadership and ADC group is now deliberately trying to frustrate the registration of ADA.

“If they had allowed us to fight it out with INEC and get it done without them coming in to interfere and put a clog in our wheel of progress, then we will say, okay, at the end of the day, we will cooperate.

“But now, having come up with doing this thing, why should we cooperate with them?”  Ardo said.