Barely three weeks after its public launch, a new opposition coalition is facing internal turmoil. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi is reportedly seeking an exit from the alliance, with former African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu claiming the coalition was created to serve the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The coalition, which includes prominent figures like Obi and Atiku, officially adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform on July 2 to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general election.
However, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Kachikwu alleged that Obi has now realized the coalition was not a genuine union but rather a vehicle designed to advance Atiku’s political aspirations.
“Someone like Mr. Peter Obi now understands that the whole coalition was packaged for Atiku Abubakar,” Kachikwu stated. “From our understanding, what we are seeing now is that he is looking in other directions.”
Allegations of Party Hijacking
Kachikwu, a chieftain of the ADC, further claimed that Atiku’s allies are attempting to hijack the party’s structure. He accused them of offering significant sums of money, including up to ₦20 million, to various state chairmen to secure their resignations before the next party convention.
“They are offering some of the state chairmen as much as ₦20 million to resign their positions, which goes to show that their intentions are not honourable,” he said.
Kachikwu stressed that the ADC is not for sale and is committed to fostering new leadership and ideas. He also publicly challenged Atiku to declare his support for a southern presidential candidate, arguing that the presidency should remain in the South for at least six more years.
These claims suggest a potential rift in the new coalition, which was presented as a unified front against the ruling party. It remains unclear what Peter Obi’s next steps will be, but Kachikwu’s comments signal growing internal friction over the coalition’s true purpose and leadership.
