Vice Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has described the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as structurally flawed, warning that its internal dynamics could lead to a contentious presidential primary.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed drew parallels between the ADC coalition and the political alliance that gave rise to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 elections.
He noted that unlike the APC merger, which rallied early behind then-General Muhammadu Buhari as the consensus candidate, the ADC coalition lacks a clear frontrunner.
The coalition, unveiled on Wednesday, brings together several influential political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former Senate President David Mark.
The group announced the ADC as its adopted platform for building a united opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Baba-Ahmed, however, expressed concern over what he called “structural misgivings” within the alliance.
“There is no distant anointed presidential candidate in this coalition, unlike in 2015 when Buhari was already the preferred choice from the start,” he said. “That clarity made it easier for the APC to rally and strategise effectively.”
He warned that without a pre-identified consensus candidate, the ADC coalition could face internal power tussles that might weaken its momentum.
“There may be a very tight and possibly unclean primary. The question is, what will be the aftermath? That’s where the real test lies,” he added.
While Baba-Ahmed stopped short of dismissing the coalition outright, his comments add to growing public scrutiny over how the diverse group of opposition figures will navigate leadership ambitions and unify behind a common vision for 2027.
