Nigerians Not ADC Will Decide Tinubu Fate In 2027

The build-up to the 2027 presidential election is already stirring heated debates as Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, declared that it will be Nigerians, not his party, who will unseat President Bola Tinubu if change is to happen.

Speaking on national television, Abdullahi took on issues ranging from corruption, party unity, coalition politics, and electoral laws, while also dismissing claims of division within his party.

He addressed the lingering leadership tussle in the ADC, insisting that Nafiu Bala, who is in court over the chairmanship, had already resigned. According to him, the transition into the coalition structure was clear, and the party has since moved on to rebuild.

On the just-concluded by-elections where the ADC had no strong showing, Abdullahi said the results could not be taken as a measure of the party’s strength, since the coalition was only weeks old and had not fielded candidates. He insisted that future contests, especially the 2027 polls, would be approached differently with more organisation and deliberate strategies.

The ADC spokesman revealed that nationwide membership registration and revalidation are now underway, adding that the process had been delayed until the new leadership’s signature could be reflected on membership cards. He confirmed that party chairman David Mark has already completed his registration, while Atiku Abubakar’s status remained unclear.

Abdullahi also explained why some coalition members, including Nasir El-Rufai and Peter Obi, backed candidates from other parties during recent polls. He said those candidates had secured tickets before joining the coalition, and were allowed to complete the process before fully crossing over.

When asked about the chances of defeating Tinubu, he stressed that Nigerians themselves would make the choice, judging the APC administration by its performance. He argued that the hardship of the past two years would guide voters’ decisions more than party labels or ideology.

He dismissed claims that the coalition is made up of disgruntled politicians without clear principles, noting that Nigerians will not vote in 2027 based on slogans but on results. He criticised the APC for still speaking in the language of promises rather than governance, and said the people will decide if their lives have improved since 2023.

On the strength of incumbency, Abdullahi admitted that it poses a challenge but recalled that even incumbents have been defeated before, citing the 2015 elections. He urged Tinubu to focus on governance rather than early campaigns, warning that Nigerians will demand accountability.

On zoning and presidential slot talks, Abdullahi said the ADC is not in any such discussions at the moment, as the party is concentrating on building structures nationwide. He maintained that conversations about candidates will come later, and only in the best interest of Nigeria.

Commenting on former President Goodluck Jonathan, he warned that the PDP remains fragile with unresolved internal crises, making his return risky. He described the ADC as the true opposition party, while welcoming the idea of the PDP joining the coalition when ready.

Abdullahi also dismissed criticisms from Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, who described the coalition as an aberration. He argued that coalitions are legitimate democratic tools, allowing groups with shared interests to work together.

On accountability, he said the ADC supports due process but warned against media trials and political witch-hunts. He pointed to the ICPC as an example of effective prosecution without publicity stunts, contrasting it with the EFCC’s style.

He further accused the APC of violating electoral laws by flooding Abuja with early 2027 campaign billboards. Abdullahi criticised INEC for sounding helpless, saying the commission should act firmly rather than appear like an advocacy group.

For him, the bigger challenge is not just weak laws but a ruling party that has already abandoned governance for campaigns. He insisted that if Tinubu cannot govern effectively, Nigerians will offer an alternative in 2027.