Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has moved to calm rising tensions within the opposition coalition after sharp exchanges erupted between his supporters and backers of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, over the 2027 presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The intervention follows weeks of heated debates, especially on X (formerly Twitter), since Obi defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ADC in December, a move he said was aimed at building a stronger opposition platform capable of addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges and dislodging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Since Obi’s entry into the coalition, his supporters, particularly members of the Obidient Movement, have intensified calls for Atiku to support Obi’s bid for the ADC presidential ticket. The pressure has, however, triggered pushback from Atiku’s supporters, deepening divisions within the coalition and raising concerns about internal cohesion ahead of 2027.

On Tuesday, Atiku publicly appealed for restraint, warning that attacks on either himself or Obi only weaken the opposition and play into the hands of the APC.

“Anyone who insults Obi or Atiku do not mean well for the leaders, the Coalition ADC and for Nigeria and Nigerians. The only persons who benefit from such a civil war are the APC urban bandits who want to maintain the satanic status quo. We are better together!” Atiku wrote.

Atiku was responding to a post by an X user identified as “Everest,” who accused Atiku’s supporters of attacking Obi while expecting no retaliation. The user wrote: “Atiku’s people want to insult Peter Obi without Atiku getting the heat back. Maybe they feel Atiku deserves respect and Peter Obi does not.”

He later replied Atiku that “I agree with you. Those who are your core supporters of whom I know you interact personally make snide remarks about Peter Obi. Most times not obvious but subtle to undermine his electoral value.

“The moment those folks stop, we will all have a great team to push out the APC.”

Earlier, Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the ADC and an associate of Atiku, echoed concerns over growing aggression within the party, warning that unchecked infighting could destabilise the coalition before it consolidates.

In a post titled “My Candid Advice to ADC: Avoid Another Wike Scenario,” Momodu cautioned the party’s leadership against allowing any group or individual to import what he described as “aggression and rambunctiousness” into the coalition. He said the ADC was adopted by opposition leaders as a voluntary platform rooted in internal democracy, not entitlement.

“No group or individual should be allowed to cause chaos,” Momodu said, warning that attempts to secure the presidential ticket through “donation and coronation” rather than persuasion and credible elections would weaken the party.

He likened the unfolding tensions to the crisis that engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging the ADC to avoid descending into factional disputes that could turn it into what he described as “a Fuji house of commotion.”

The friction within the coalition has largely centred on zoning and succession arguments. Obi’s supporters have continued to insist that the ADC should zone its presidential ticket to the South, arguing that Nigerians are more inclined towards a southern candidate after the eight-year tenure of former president Muhammadu Buhari.

Both Atiku and Obi have indicated interest in contesting for the ADC presidential ticket, intensifying jockeying among their supporters. However, the party’s leadership has sought to play down zoning debates for now.

Earlier, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, told Daily Trust that the party was not focused on zoning but on repositioning itself as a credible alternative to the APC. He said strengthening internal structures and expanding the party’s reach remained the priority.

Despite Atiku’s call for calm, divergent views over the likely outcome of the ADC primaries continue to surface. A former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo, said Obi would struggle to clinch the ADC presidential ticket if Atiku remains in the race.

Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Ardo described Atiku as the dominant figure within the coalition and the favourite to emerge as the party’s flagbearer.

“The ADC, as it is currently constituted, if it goes for primaries a hundred times, Atiku will win a hundred times. There is absolutely no doubt about that,” Ardo said.

He added that Obi’s chances depend largely on Atiku’s personal decision. “I am not saying that Peter Obi cannot be the candidate of the party; however, he can only be the candidate of the party if Atiku steps down,” he said.

Ardo, however, acknowledged Obi’s electoral value, describing his support base as a major asset to the coalition. He said the former Anambra governor “controls more than six million votes,” making him central to the ADC’s 2027 strategy.

Meanwhile, pressure from Obi’s allies has continued to mount. Some of his supporters have insisted that he should not accept a vice-presidential slot under any coalition arrangement. Political economist Pat Utomi recently threatened to withdraw his support for Obi if he agrees to run as a running mate, while activist Aisha Yesufu and leaders of the Obidient Movement have publicly aligned with the view that Obi must contest the presidency. (Daily Trust)