The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) zoning decision for the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a calculated political strategy to attract Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan, and Rotimi Amaechi.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made this assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, August 26.
Abdullahi accused both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of prioritising political scheming over solving Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
“Why are we so preoccupied and behaving in such a way that Nigerians begin to look at the political elite across the divides as if we don’t care about them?” he queried, condemning early zoning plans as insensitive given that the election is still two years away.
The PDP recently announced its 2027 presidential ticket would be zoned to the South, while the national chairmanship would remain in the North. Similarly, APC leaders have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election, citing Nigeria’s informal North-South power rotation.
Abdullahi, however, dismissed both parties’ decisions as political gamesmanship.
“They (APC and PDP) are very experienced people, and they know the implications of showing their way too early. So, it’s either they are playing a predetermined game or baiting some people to come around,” he stated.
He further stressed that the ADC is not built around a single aspirant, adding that figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi have equal chances if they seek the party’s ticket.
“In the papers yesterday (Monday), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came out to say he is going to run for presidency. Don’t forget we still have the likes of Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and others who are interested in running, and we have reiterated that they have an equal chance,” he said.
The ADC, according to Abdullahi, has yet to decide on zoning its presidential ticket, focusing instead on grassroots mobilisation and building strong party structures.
“We are not bothered with what the PDP has done. Nigerians can see right into it. PDP people are not naïve; they are very experienced politicians. For them to take that decision two years ahead of the presidential election, there must be a game on, and we can see right through it. We are not pressured; we are focused on our party,” he added.
