Discontent is mounting within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West over allegations that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is sidelining established party leaders and conducting political activities through personal associates ahead of the 2027 general election.
Several party chieftains, including state chairmen and governorship candidates, are reportedly unhappy with what they describe as Atiku’s preference for dealing with friends and loyalists rather than working through the party’s existing structures in the region.
The development has reportedly weakened enthusiasm for his presidential ambition in a region widely regarded as the political stronghold of President Bola Tinubu.
The grievances were formally raised at a meeting of ADC governorship candidates and other party leaders in Ibadan, Oyo State, on September 4. The delegation reportedly presented its concerns to the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, insisting that Atiku should recognise and engage the structures responsible for producing the party’s candidates for the 2027 elections.
One of the candidates who attended the meeting said the gathering was heated, with participants demanding that the former vice-president stop running his political activities through a parallel network of associates.
According to the source, the leaders wanted the national leadership to establish whether Atiku intended to work with the party or continue relying primarily on his personal political connections.
Following the complaints, Atiku reportedly held a virtual meeting with South-West leaders on September 5, assuring them of his commitment to the ADC and promising to address their concerns.
He was also said to have requested five nominees from each state for appointment to his presidential campaign committee.
However, some aggrieved party members claim that the assurances have yet to translate into meaningful changes.
The disagreement has also taken a financial dimension, with some party officials accusing Atiku of failing to provide adequate support for political activities in the region.
An ADC insider alleged that six South-West state chairmen travelled to Abuja for a meeting with the presidential candidate on September 17 but were disappointed that no transport allowance was provided.
The source suggested that the former vice-president might be concentrating on securing a reasonable share of the region’s votes rather than investing substantially in building the party’s campaign machinery.
An ADC House of Assembly candidate in Ekiti State also complained about the lack of visible campaign activities, blaming the situation on what he described as the presidential candidate’s failure to engage party stakeholders.
In Lagos, the Chairman of the ADC Local Government Chairmen, Adewole Ijaogbomo, accused a small circle of individuals of taking control of Atiku’s political activities at the expense of established party leaders.
He warned that some of those involved were allegedly positioning themselves to benefit from campaign funds, while grassroots leaders remained excluded.
Ijaogbomo urged Atiku to intervene before the growing dissatisfaction undermined the party’s chances in the region.
South-West chairman defends Atiku
The ADC South-West Chairman, Akin Omole, however, rejected suggestions that Atiku was deliberately marginalising party members.
He argued that the ADC was a coalition of politicians from different political backgrounds and that the presidential candidate could not be expected to abandon longstanding relationships simply because of his new political platform.
Omole maintained that personal alliances were an important part of political organisation and could contribute to the party’s electoral success.
He also confirmed the September 4 Ibadan meeting, describing it as a strategic gathering focused on how to secure victory for the ADC in the South-West.
On the allegation that Atiku failed to provide transport allowances for party officials who travelled to Abuja, Omole insisted that political parties should not depend entirely on presidential candidates for funding.
He said party officials had responsibilities to mobilise resources within their respective states rather than expect an individual candidate to shoulder every financial obligation.
Similarly, Lagos ADC Chairman, George Ashiru, dismissed the allegations of marginalisation, explaining that Atiku had yet to inaugurate campaign councils and appoint state coordinators.
He argued that campaign committees were separate strategic structures and did not necessarily have to comprise party executives.
Ashiru said the presidential candidate would engage relevant stakeholders and accommodate the party’s interests when the campaign machinery was formally established.
Osun ADC dismisses Atiku-Aregbesola rift
Meanwhile, the Osun State chapter of the ADC has dismissed speculation that Atiku and Aregbesola are embroiled in a disagreement.
The speculation followed the announcement of Atiku’s presidential campaign council on September 25, which did not include the former Osun governor.
However, the party’s Publicity Secretary in Osun, Oluwaseun Abosede, insisted that there was no misunderstanding between the two political figures or leadership crisis within the party.
He explained that the South-West leadership was implementing a political roadmap involving consultations, engagement with interest groups, relationship-building and expansion of the party’s grassroots structures.
Abosede maintained that the absence of frequent public activities should not be mistaken for inactivity, expressing confidence that the party’s preparations would become more visible at the appropriate time.
Atiku’s camp rejects allegations
Atiku’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, also dismissed claims that the presidential candidate had sidelined ADC executives in the South-West.
He explained that state campaign coordinators and campaign councils had not yet been announced or inaugurated, making allegations of exclusion premature.
Shaibu maintained that Atiku respected the party’s leadership and established structures, describing claims that he was conducting political activities outside the party framework as opposition-driven speculation.
The disagreement comes as Atiku seeks to strengthen his electoral prospects in the South-West, where Tinubu secured victories in Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states during the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku, who contested that election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, won Osun State, while Labour Party candidate Peter Obi secured Lagos.
With the 2027 presidential contest approaching, the ability of the ADC to reconcile competing interests and build a coordinated campaign structure in the region could prove critical to its electoral ambitions.