ADC: Mixed feelings in north over coalition presidential candidate as Obi, Atiku intensify campaign

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Even as both leaders intensify their campaigns, Northern people are still split over the potential alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, under a larger coalition.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, political analyst Abdulkadir Ibrahim, also known as Abba Gwale, from Kano stated that voters in the north believe the coalition is essential to defeating Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Despite not having formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi is already regarded as a member of the coalition, Gwale clarified.

“The major actors of the coalition are mostly Northerners. Peter Obi is yet to join ADC, but as they said, he’s part of the movement and will soon dump his party and join the coalition,” he said.

He claims that Northerners think the coalition has the best chance of unseating President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming election.

“There are many people working behind the scenes, and people in the North are giving the coalition serious consideration,” Gwale added.

Gwale: Northern voters are expected to turn out in large numbers.

Gwale responded that Northerners are willing to back any credible alternative to the current government when asked about the coalition’s expected effect on regional voter turnout.

“Northerners will come out and vote for any candidate under the coalition. They believe it’s the only way to end Tinubu’s administration. If they turn out, the current leadership will be in serious danger because of the numbers and political actors involved,” he said.

Additionally, Gwale thinks the ADC has a good potential of having an effect on the area.

As evidence of growing support, he cited recent defections from rival parties.

“Top politicians are trooping to get ADC membership cards. Recently, former APC governorship candidate in Adamawa, Aishatu Binani, joined ADC. The weight of the people in the party will determine how far it will go in the elections,” he said.

He stated that the withdrawal of fuel subsidies, rising food costs, higher energy rates, high school tuition at postsecondary institutions, insecurity, and nepotism were the top issues Northern voters were worried about before the election.

“These are what people in the North will keep in mind before they vote,” Gwale said.

Mukhtar Adnan says the Obi-Atiku combination poses a serious challenge to the APC.

The best political move ahead of the 2027 elections, according to former Kano House of Assembly candidate Mukhtar Adnan, was the potential partnership between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

In an interview with ZINGTIE, Adnan stated that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will face significant opposition from the combined strength of both men.

“An alliance between Obi and Atiku is going to be the best thing, looking at the weight of the two political figures. Both Atiku and Obi have secured more than 6 million votes each. When you combine that, it’s almost 13 million. President Tinubu got just 8 million votes. That alliance is a threat to the governing APC and President Tinubu’s re-election.”

According to Adnan, the alliance is gaining traction in Northern Nigeria, particularly among grassroots citizens fed up with the current state of the economy.

“When you sit down with the people at the grassroots, you will find out that they are interested in the success of the coalition. There is poverty and people are living in serious hardship. It seems the president is not serious about solving the challenges facing the country,” Adnan explained.

Adnan stated that he thinks Atiku is the most capable candidate for president right now.

“I trust Atiku as the best and most competent among all the aspirants. He has the experience, and his track record in both public and private sectors shows that he has the capacity to solve Nigeria’s problems.”

He went on to say that Atiku’s prior campaigns demonstrated his distinct ideas for reform.

“You know he has a blueprint. He has contested many times and has always shown Nigerians that he understands the country’s problems and has solutions.

“I will vote for Atiku, and I will prefer Obi as his deputy,” he said.

But according to Katsina resident Al-ameem Kabeer, it will be challenging to overthrow the ruling party.

“The ruling party will do everything it takes to defend their position and make sure they are not defeated,” he said.

He asserts that defeating the APC would be all but impossible unless the ADC could get more governors than the APC and win Kwankwaso over to their cause.

Kano district chief Nazeer Dalhatu had a similar viewpoint. He asserted that the APC-led administration cannot be overthrown by the ADC.

“The ADC is filled with angry politicians, people who didn’t get positions in the APC. They are not strong enough to compete. From what we’ve seen so far, they are simply not ready.”

Zaria resident Abdulrasheed Omoniyi, however, has conflicting opinions.

Citing previous political changes, he thinks the ADC has the potential to overthrow the APC.

“It has happened before, look at when Jonathan lost to the APC. But the energy back then was different. That kind of momentum isn’t there now.”

Additionally, he stated that the ADC would lose support if they put forward a northern candidate for president because many people think the ticket should go to the South.

“The chances are slim. But if they present the right candidate, they might be able to defeat the APC.”

Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), addressed the situation by stressing that the coalition is focused on creating a shared destiny for the nation rather than supporting a single candidate.

“Nobody is talking about a presidential candidate at the moment. We don’t have a preferred candidate. When the time comes, we’ll follow a democratic process and allow members to decide. Our focus now is on growing the party,” he told ZINGTIE in an exclusive interview.

He disclosed that the majority of ADC’s current leaders are from the North.

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