2027: Tension In APC As Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai Finally Agrees On Alliance Under ADC

In a dramatic turn of events ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (PDP), ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai (SDP), and Labour Party leader Peter Obi have reached a long-anticipated agreement to unite under a single political banner, according to three sources familiar with the development.

The trio, who represent distinct political ideologies and regional blocs, have agreed to contest the next general elections under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a relatively obscure party whose presidential candidate garnered just 82,000 votes in the last election. The announcement has yet to be made public.

While the merger marks a seismic political shift, the issue of who will fly the coalition’s presidential flag remains unresolved.

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A major hurdle is Nigeria’s informal but deeply rooted tradition of rotating power between the North and South. Atiku, a northern politician, struggled in the 2023 elections as southern voters rallied behind Obi, a southeastern contender.

Obi, who was Atiku’s running mate in 2019, has since ruled out playing second fiddle again—a stance that resonates with his youthful support base. Reversing that position may risk alienating his core followers and weakening the coalition’s momentum before it even begins.

With the political chessboard reset, all eyes now turn to how the newly formed alliance will navigate internal power dynamics and public expectations on the road to 2027.