A faction of the African Democratic Congress has distanced itself from reports linking the party to merger talks with former President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and New Nigeria Peoples Party leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 polls.
The faction’s National Chairman, Nafiu Gombe, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, described the reports as false and misleading, maintaining that his group remains the authentic leadership of the party.
Gombe urged members and the public to disregard what he termed “unfounded rumours” about political alignments with the opposition heavyweights.
“The party strongly appeals to its members and the general public to disregard the unfounded rumours circulating about political alignments involving individuals such as Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Goodluck Jonathan,” he stated.
He emphasised that the ADC was committed to building an independent and ideologically-driven platform rather than becoming a vehicle for elite political negotiations.
“The ADC’s focus remains on building a strong, independent party guided strictly by its constitution and internal democratic processes,” Gombe added.
The factional chairman dismissed the speculation as a calculated distraction, warning that only constitutionally recognised procedures would determine the party’s leadership and flag bearers for 2027.
He noted that only fully registered and financially up-to-date members would be eligible to vote or stand for election in party congresses.
To demonstrate its commitment to due process, Gombe announced the completion of zonal congress committee inaugurations in three geopolitical zones.
According to a communiqué signed by him, the South-West Zonal Congress Committee was inaugurated in Ekiti State on January 7, 2026, with Bala Sani appointed chairman and Hon. Kyauta Yakubu heading the Appeal Committee.
The South-East congress committee was inaugurated same day in Enugu State, with Adamu Ado Dauda as chairman and Mrs Iyabo Alibi leading the Appeal Committee.
For the North-Central zone, the congress committee was inaugurated on January 5, 2026, with Lolo Ehirudu as chairman and Hon. Sa’ad Aboki heading the Appeal Committee.
Gombe said the zonal inaugurations reflected the faction’s insistence on transparency, due process and party unity.
The development comes amid rising tensions within opposition circles over the ADC’s presidential ticket, with disagreements over leadership legitimacy, consensus arrangements and zoning dominating internal debates.
Atiku recently declared he would not step down from the 2027 presidential race, dismissing such calls as undemocratic.
In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, titled ‘Nigeria’s Democracy Under Siege: Opposition Faces Existential Threat’, Atiku accused the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress of meddling in the ADC’s internal affairs, particularly regarding the selection of its presidential candidate.
Besides Atiku, Peter Obi and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who contested the APC presidential primary in 2022, have also expressed interest in the ADC ticket, setting the stage for a potentially explosive opposition primary ahead of the 2027 general election.