Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has shed light on why several prominent figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition are showing strong interest in running for the presidency in 2027.
According to Ibe, the surge in ambition among opposition leaders is driven by widespread frustration with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which he described as having plunged the country into deep economic hardship and insecurity.
Growing Concerns Over 2027 Presidential Ticket
There has been rising tension within the ADC coalition as speculation mounts over who will eventually secure the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections. Political observers have warned that internal rivalries could derail the coalition’s efforts.
Those believed to be eyeing the presidency include:
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate
Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 LP presidential candidate
Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation
Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State
Notably, while Amaechi lost the APC primary to Tinubu in 2022, both Atiku and Obi ran against Tinubu in the 2023 general election under different opposition platforms.
“A Country in Crisis” Harsh Words for Tinubu’s Leadership
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Ibe lambasted President Tinubu’s administration for exacerbating poverty, inflation, and insecurity across the country. He said the coalition’s ambition is a direct response to the worsening conditions faced by everyday Nigerians.
“The ADC Coalition leaders are angry with the mess that Tinubu has made of Nigeria,” Ibe wrote.
“They’re angry at how the material condition of the average citizen has deteriorated. They’re angry at how Nigerians have become poorer. They’re angry at the skyrocketing prices of food.”
“They’re angry that even the minimum wage cannot buy a bag of rice. The Tinubu-led APC administration’s policies have snowballed inflation. They’re livid at the worsening insecurity that has left Nigerians at the mercy of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and marauding bloodthirsty killers.”
Presidential Aspirations Not a Crime, Says Ibe
Ibe defended the right of coalition leaders to aspire for the nation’s highest office, stating that their desire stems from a sense of responsibility and a drive for change.
“There’s nothing wrong in all of them wanting to be president. The delegates of the party will, at the appropriate time, determine who will be the presidential candidate,” he said.
“That is DEMOCRACY (as opposed to Tinubu’s DICTATORSHIP) at work.”
He criticized President Tinubu for what he described as a presidency defined by “incompetence and cluelessness,” calling it a “waste of opportunity.”
