By Watchmann

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has thrown its presidential ticket open to all members keen on flying its flag in the 2027 general election.

The party, which also formally abandoned its initial moves to register the African Democratic Alliance (ADA), explained that the ‘no automatic ticket’ decision was aimed at strengthening internal democracy and avoiding divisions ahead of the poll.

The decision, according to a statement yesterday, was reached at a caucus meeting of the ADC leaders in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

There have been insinuations that the camp of Atiku Abubakar, which left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for ADC, intended to restrict the jostling for the presidential ticket to aspirants from the North.

There were also speculations that the group was planning to make Atiku the consensus presidential candidate.

But party leaders, including the National Chairman, David Mark; Atiku, National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Governors Nasir el-Rufai(Kaduna); Aminu Tambuwal(Sokoto); and Chibuike Amaechi(Rivers), resolved that no aspirant should be excluded at the primary.

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who was absent, sent apologies and pledged his commitment to ongoing consultations and cooperation with the party.

ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said in the statement that all aspirants in attendance agreed to support whoever emerges from the party primaries.

He added that the caucus also restated its earlier directive for members to resign from other political parties.

Abdullahi gave no specific timeline for compliance, but he said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was mandated to announce dates for the off-cycle governorship election primaries in Osun and Ekiti states.

The statement by Abdullahi after the meeting, partly reads: ‘’The Coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means, they are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association.

‘’All the presidential aspirants have agreed to support whoever wins the primary election.

‘’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 NWC will announce dates for Osun and Èkìtì states for election of candidates for the off-cycle governorship elections.’’