By Kevin Akor
ABUJA, Nigeria (chatnewstv.com) — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday called for restraint and unity within Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress after escalating online clashes between his supporters and members of the Obidient Movement over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
The appeal follows the defection of Peter Obi, a former Anambra State governor and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, to the ADC — a move that has reshaped opposition politics and intensified rivalry among supporters ahead of the next general election.
In a statement posted on his verified X account, Atiku warned that personal attacks against opposition leaders, including himself and Obi, were damaging the ADC and strengthening the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Anyone who insults Obi or Atiku does not mean well for the leaders, the Coalition ADC and for Nigeria and Nigerians,” Atiku wrote. “The only people who benefit from such a civil war are the APC urban bandits who want to maintain the satanic status quo. We are better together.”
Atiku’s comments were prompted by a post from political commentator Novie Everest, who accused Atiku’s supporters of criticizing Obi while shielding the former vice president from similar scrutiny. The exchange reignited an already heated debate on social media, where divisions within the opposition coalition have become increasingly visible.
“Atiku’s people want to insult Peter Obi without Atiku getting the heat back,” Everest wrote. “Maybe they feel Atiku deserves respect and Peter Obi does not.”
Obi’s move to the ADC in December marked a turning point for the opposition. He drew widespread youth and urban support in the 2023 election and has said his decision to switch parties was driven by the need to build a broader coalition capable of confronting Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
However, his arrival has intensified competition for the ADC’s presidential nomination. Obi’s supporters, known as Obidients, have urged Atiku to step aside and back Obi as a consensus candidate, arguing that his 2023 performance and appeal among young voters make him the strongest challenger to the APC.
Atiku’s loyalists counter that the former vice president remains the most experienced figure within the coalition, citing his nationwide political network, cross-regional appeal and multiple presidential runs.
The dispute has largely played out on X, where exchanges between both camps have grown increasingly personal. Party officials and analysts say the tone has raised concerns about internal cohesion ahead of the ADC’s primaries.
“The question is not Atiku versus Obi,” a senior ADC figure said on condition of anonymity. “The real issue is whether the opposition can stay united long enough to present a credible alternative to Nigerians.”
Political observers say Atiku’s public intervention reflects mounting anxiety within opposition ranks as the 2027 election cycle approaches. They warn that unchecked infighting could undermine the ADC’s credibility and repeat a pattern in which opposition alliances fracture, leaving the ruling party dominant.
As debates over the presidential ticket continue, attention is turning to how the ADC manages its internal processes and reins in supporter-driven disputes — a test many see as critical to the party’s prospects in 2027.
