ADC Aspirant ‘Atiku’ Shuts Down Step-Down Rumors, Insists Every Candidate Will Fight for the Party’s Ticket in Open Primaries

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is bracing for a highly competitive internal season as one of its leading aspirants, popularly known as Atiku, has vowed that the culture of “forced consensus” will not find a home in the party this year.

Addressing a gathering of supporters and party delegates at the ADC National Secretariat in Abuja, the aspirant addressed recent media reports suggesting that some candidates were being “persuaded” to drop their ambitions in favor of a more “politically viable” consensus candidate.

“The ADC is a party of ideas, not a party of dictation,” the aspirant declared. “We have heard the whispers that some of us will step down. Let me be clear: no aspirant in the ADC will step down for anyone. We have all bought our forms, we have all traveled the 36 states, and we have all earned the right to be voted for by our members.”

The statement is seen as a direct rebuttal to ongoing talks among opposition parties to form a “mega-coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections. While the ADC has been mentioned as a potential partner in such a merger, the internal sentiment appears to favor a “bottom-up” democratic process where the most popular candidate wins the ticket.

The aspirant, often called “Atiku” by his political base to signify his reach, argued that “stepping down” often leads to the disenfranchisement of grassroots supporters. He insisted that if the ADC wants to be taken seriously as a “Third Force” in the 2026 political landscape, it must prove that it can conduct a primary election without the “godfatherism” that plagues other parties.

“We are not here to play second fiddle. If you want to be the candidate of this great party, you must go to the field and win the hearts of the delegates. There will be no shortcuts, no secret meetings in hotel rooms, and certainly no stepping down.” — ADC Aspirant ‘Atiku’

As the party prepares for its upcoming congresses, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC has remained silent on the “step-down” controversy, though insiders suggest the party is keen on avoiding a repeat of the internal frictions that marred its 2023 performance. For now, the message from the “Atiku” camp is clear: the ADC race is a marathon, and every runner intends to cross the finish line.