“‘Obi or Nothing’ Is Not Helpful,” ADC Warns Supporters as Internal Divisions Deepen Ahead of 2027
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong warning to supporters of its presidential aspirants, urging them to refrain from divisive politics that could undermine the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party cautioned that rigid positions and exclusionary slogans, particularly the popular “Obi or Nothing” chant among some supporters, are counterproductive and risk weakening the broader opposition movement.
This call comes amid growing speculation over the 2027 presidential race, with prominent opposition figures such as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi linked to possible presidential bids under the ADC platform. While neither figure has formally declared, their presence within the same political coalition has already sparked intense debates among supporters, especially around zoning, regional balance, and candidate selection.
In recent weeks, disagreements have emerged among ADC supporters, with many Obi loyalists arguing that the party’s presidential ticket should be zoned to the South, while supporters of Atiku have largely pushed for an open and competitive contest without zoning restrictions. These debates have increasingly spilled onto social media, often accompanied by insults and hardline rhetoric.
Speaking during an interactive X Space session on Saturday, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, appealed for restraint and collective focus. Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, stressed that internal divisions only serve the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
“Those supporting this divisiveness among supporters of any of the aspirants should stop what they are doing because they are clearly working to the advantage of the APC and President Bola Tinubu,” Abdullahi said.
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He warned that adopting an “either this candidate or nothing” mindset was misguided, arguing that securing a party ticket alone does not guarantee electoral success. According to him, the ultimate objective is to win the general election, not merely the party primaries.
“Saying it is either this candidate or nothing is not helpful because getting the ticket alone means nothing,” he added. “What is important is winning the election, and we cannot carry this divisiveness and expect to win.”
Abdullahi further disclosed that the ADC leadership plans to intensify efforts to strengthen internal cohesion and encourage party leaders to promote unity among all aspirants. He emphasized that all individuals linked to the party’s presidential ambitions are qualified and deserving of respect.
“We believe that all our aspirants are eminently qualified, and vilifying anybody or any region is not helpful and will only make things more difficult,” he said. “We are going to commence the process of strengthening unity and having our leaders speak with one voice.”
Addressing Obi’s core supporters directly, Abdullahi cautioned that the “Obi or Nothing” narrative could actually hurt the former governor’s chances by alienating potential allies across regions and political blocs.
“Those shouting ‘Obi or nothing’ are equally not helping him,” he said. “They are preaching division, and they are not selling him. They are not providing room for people from other places to support him.”
The warning aligns with earlier remarks made by Atiku Abubakar, who has also cautioned supporters of opposition figures against trading insults. On January 20, Atiku warned that personal attacks among opposition camps only strengthen the APC, adding that anyone who insults either him or Peter Obi does not have the interests of Nigerians or the opposition coalition at heart.
Earlier, on January 6, Atiku stated that no ADC presidential aspirant would be pressured to step down ahead of the 2027 elections. He explained that all qualified aspirants would be allowed to freely present themselves once the party formally begins its candidate selection process.
As political activities gradually intensify ahead of 2027, the ADC’s leadership appears keen to prevent internal fractures from derailing its ambition to present a united front against the ruling party. Whether this call for unity will temper rising passions among supporters remains to be seen.