The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected claims that it is being positioned to serve the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the party is owned collectively by its members.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC operates as a self-governing political organisation and is not controlled by any individual or interest group.
Abdullahi said the party remains open to all Nigerians, including high-profile politicians, stressing that membership does not translate into ownership or special privilege.
“Those of us within the ADC know that the party does not belong to any one person,” he said. “That is why someone like Peter Obi can join, and why Rotimi Amaechi is already a member.”
He described suggestions that the ADC is being groomed as a vehicle for Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid as baseless, arguing that such claims come from people who do not understand how the party is structured.
According to Abdullahi, the ADC’s model of collective ownership allows it to attract politicians from different regions and political backgrounds without surrendering control to any single figure.
He also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of fuelling the speculation, alleging attempts to meddle in the ADC’s internal affairs.
Abdullahi said the party’s leadership selection process is clear and transparent, adding that its presidential candidate would emerge through due process rather than personal influence.
“Whoever eventually becomes our presidential candidate, whether Atiku or any other aspirant, will emerge through a transparent and credible process,” he said.
He reaffirmed that the ADC is committed to internal democracy and equal opportunity, noting that no individual can lay claim to the party or dictate its direction.
The clarification comes amid rising political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition parties position themselves and court prominent political figures.
