BY KABIR HASSAN
The race for the 2027 presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified as influential political figures from the North are reportedly mobilising support for a Southern candidate, setting the stage for a bruising contest between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi.
Ahead of the party’s forthcoming national convention, investigations revealed a growing split within the ADC’s Northern caucus, with a faction insisting that the party stands a better chance against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if it presents a Southern flag bearer.
This position, party insiders said, has placed Atiku’s ambition under serious pressure despite his long-standing political clout and extensive nationwide network.
According to the Saturday Telegraph, multiple sources confirmed that the pro-South group is quietly but strategically backing Obi, arguing that fielding another Northern candidate against Tinubu could heighten political tension and weaken the opposition’s appeal across key regions.
According to one senior party figure, “There is a strong belief among some Northern leaders that a Southern candidate, particularly from the South East, would make the ADC more acceptable nationally and give the party moral leverage in 2027.”
The sources disclosed that the move to rally behind Obi follows assurances from prominent political actors in the North, which emboldened the former Labour Party presidential candidate to formally pitch his tent with the ADC during a recent political engagement in Enugu.
Beyond Obi and Atiku, the contest is further complicated by the interest shown by the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, who has also declared his intention to seek the ADC ticket.
However, party watchers believe the real battle remains between Atiku and Obi, with the former Vice President still regarded as the frontrunner due to his deep financial war chest and vast political machinery.
Despite this advantage, insiders insist that the push for a Southern candidate is gaining momentum.
A party source explained that advocates of the Obi project are attempting to persuade Atiku to step aside in the interest of national balance and party unity.
“They argue that supporting a Southern candidate, especially from the South East, would calm existing agitations in the region and help rebuild the historic alliance between the North and the East.
“There is also the sentiment that the South East deserves a fair shot, having never produced a democratically elected president," the source said.
Another source revealed that some former governors from the North West and retired military generals across the country are actively involved in the consultations, allegedly with the tacit backing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The former Vice President appeared to acknowledge these pressures recently when he issued a statement affirming that he would not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, a move many interpret as a response to behind-the-scenes efforts to edge him out of contention.
As the ADC convention draws closer, the unfolding power struggle underscores deeper strategic calculations within the opposition party, the calculations that could ultimately redefine its chances against the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Whether Atiku’s experience and structure will prevail over the growing clamour for a Southern candidate remains one of the biggest political questions ahead of the convention.
