Lagos, Nigeria – In a bold prediction amid Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno State and erstwhile national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has declared the African Democratic Congress (ADC) irrelevant in the nation’s politics. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sheriff asserted that the party, recently bolstered by high-profile defectors including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, would fade away within months.
“As far as this politics is concerned, ADC doesn’t exist. Give the party three months and it will die down,” Sheriff said. He further claimed that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, is merely biding his time before rejoining the PDP to contest the presidency in 2027. “The information available to me is that Peter Obi is on his way back to PDP,” Sheriff added, emphasising that Obi would secure the party’s ticket.
Sheriff’s comments come against the backdrop of significant opposition realignments. Earlier this month, Obi and Abubakar, who together garnered over 50% of the votes in the 2023 presidential poll but finished second and third respectively, announced their defection to the ADC. The move, aimed at uniting opposition forces against President Bola Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has seen the ADC absorb other prominent figures such as former Senate President David Mark, ex-PDP chairman Uche Secondus, and former APC stalwarts Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi. Analysts suggest this coalition could pose a formidable challenge in 2027, potentially combining the duo’s previous vote shares to surpass Tinubu’s 37% victory margin.
However, Sheriff’s dismissal echoes scepticism from some quarters. The ADC, originally registered in 2005 and with limited national footprint—boasting just two seats in the House of Representatives—has faced internal tensions since the influx of new members. Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, recently accused Obi of already plotting an exit, claiming the former Anambra governor is using the ADC as a temporary platform. Meanwhile, the Obidient Movement, Obi’s grassroots support base, has denied reports of his withdrawal from the coalition.
The PDP, from which Obi defected in May 2022 citing internal discord, has also shown interest in reclaiming him. Jerry Gana, a PDP founding member, revealed last week that efforts are underway to lure Obi back. In response, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi warned Obi against returning to the PDP, arguing it would be a risky move that could alienate his supporters.
Obi’s involvement with the ADC follows turmoil within the LP, which issued him a 48-hour ultimatum earlier in July to clarify his position or resign, amid accusations of disloyalty. The LP, now grappling with leadership crises, risks losing its prominence without Obi’s star power, while the PDP faces similar challenges in maintaining its opposition status.
The APC, for its part, has downplayed the ADC’s emergence, endorsing Tinubu for a second term despite concerns over his health. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 polls, these shifting alliances underscore the fluid nature of the country’s multi-party democracy, with personal ambitions and strategic mergers likely to shape the contest.
Sheriff’s prophecy of the ADC’s demise adds fuel to the speculation, but whether it materialises remains to be seen. For now, the opposition’s unity—or lack thereof—could determine the fate of Tinubu’s administration.
