The African Democratic Congress (ADC) could resort to a competitive primary to select its 2027 presidential candidate if a consensus agreement between party heavyweights fails, party sources revealed on Saturday.

The party is reportedly split between two camps: one backing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the other supporting Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor who recently defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ADC.

Atiku, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue his presidential ambition under the ADC platform, currently controls the party’s structure. Meanwhile, Obi’s supporters are pressuring the leadership to convince Atiku to step aside, allowing Obi to secure the consensus ticket.

A source explained Obi’s defection as strategic:

“The Igbo intelligentsia believe they can persuade Atiku to step down and allow Obi to fly the ADC ticket. They assessed available parties and concluded that ADC offers the best platform to challenge the ruling APC. The PDP is weak, and they don’t want to gamble with the LP as they did in 2023.”

In 2023, Obi obtained the Labour Party’s nomination by consensus, avoiding a primary. In contrast, Atiku has consistently insisted on holding a primary, even if uncontested.

A source from Atiku’s camp dismissed any plan for him to step aside:

“Atiku has welcomed Obi into the party. We are ready for the ADC presidential primary. Nobody should be afraid of submitting to the rules of the game for competition.”

The situation signals potential tension within ADC as the party balances the interests of two heavyweight candidates ahead of the 2027 election.