• ADC Sends Message to Atiku, Obi: “Join our party now!”
By Abiola Olawale
Speculations have continued to emerge regarding the 2027 Presidential election as former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan held a meeting with David Mark, the interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Thursday night.
The closed-door meeting between Jonathan, Mark, and other ADC leaders came after the party sent a strong message to prominent politicians, including a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to pick up their membership cards.
Meanwhile, The New Diplomat gathered that the closed-door meeting was held at the residence of Mark, while former Minister of Sports and ADC spokesperson, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, as well as a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, among others, were present.
The New Diplomat’s checks revealed that the meeting wasn’t just a casual catch-up but a strategic one.
Recall that Mark, who served as the President of the Senate during Jonathan’s 2010-2015 tenure, also played a pivotal role in the “doctrine of necessity” that propelled Jonathan to the acting presidency amid the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s health crisis.
Sources close to the matter described the discussions as “highly strategic,” focusing on coalition-building and electoral pathways for 2027, though neither side has spilled official details.
“This is Jonathan weighing his options in a landscape ripe for realignment,” one ADC insider told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The New Diplomat also reports that Jonathan, 68, has been the subject of relentless speculation since August, when reports emerged of discreet talks with ADC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Several party chieftains from both the ADC and the PDP have confirmed their openness to welcoming the ex-president.
According to the source, many people believe Jonathan still tops the list of potential candidates to give President Bola Tinubu a tough challenge in 2027.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Abdullahi, has sent a strong message to prominent politicians across the country.
Abdullahi declared that ADC would not consider anybody who is not a member of the party.
Abdullahi said: “Though a final order has been given to all members to resign membership of other political parties, the caucus was silent on the timeline.
“The coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means they are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association.
On the 2027 presidential race, Abdullahi said ADC’s presidential aspirants had agreed to back whoever emerged winner of the primaries.
“All the presidential aspirants have agreed to support whoever wins the primary election,” he stated.
The ADC spokesman further revealed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) would soon announce dates for primaries in Osun and Ekiti states ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections in both states.
