ABUJA, — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned supporters of its presidential hopefuls to stop promoting “division and exceptionality” as the party heads into its June primaries, arguing that internal rancour would hand an advantage to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during a live audio conversation on X (formerly Twitter) in Abuja on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the opposition’s primary objective should be building a unified national campaign rather than elevating any single aspirant or region as indispensable.
Abdullahi singled out “either this candidate or nothing” rhetoric as politically counterproductive, warning that it narrows outreach and hardens fault lines needed to win across Nigeria’s regions. He said the party would “ignore people creating exceptionality” and focus on presenting a credible, peaceful and inclusive alternative.
Among the examples he cited was the slogan “Peter Obi or nothing,” which he argued undermines coalition-building and is “not helping” Obi’s prospects because it encourages divisive politics rather than broad persuasion.
Abdullahi said he had held discussions with several high-profile figures linked to the opposition space—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra governor Peter Obi, and former governors Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir el-Rufai—on the need to strengthen unity within the party and widen its national appeal ahead of the next general election.
He also addressed debate over proposals to bring forward the 2027 general elections into 2026, describing an early poll as a “double-edged sword” for the ADC: while public dissatisfaction with the current administration could work in the party’s favour, accelerated timelines could leave the opposition struggling to heal internal wounds and complete difficult organisational tasks.
Abdullahi said the party is treating the forthcoming FCT area council elections as a strategic priority after what he described as a disappointing outing in the Anambra off-season poll, adding that the ADC wants to “make a statement” in the capital.
He further alleged that some state governments are compelling civil servants—linked to National Identification Number (NIN) requirements—to register as members of ruling parties, raising concerns about political coercion and the integrity of the competitive space.
