BY AHMED AKANBI

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‎A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, has warned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to stop parading himself as the party’s presidential candidate for 2027.

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‎Gombe, who described himself as the National Chairman of the party, also denied any deal with the G100 Coalition for an alliance, merger or coalition ahead of the polls.

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‎He accused Atiku and some members of the coalition of pressuring the ADC leadership into an arrangement that would undermine the party’s independence.

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‎In a statement on Saturday, Gombe said the ADC would contest the 2027 elections alone and would not allow its future to be determined by personal ambitions.

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‎The warning comes amid a leadership tussle in the ADC, with two factions laying claim to the party.

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‎While one faction led by former Senate President David Mark is recognised by INEC, Gombe’s group is challenging the takeover in court.

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‎Gombe alleged that some members of the G100 Coalition and Atiku have been holding backchannel talks to railroad the ADC into a forced alliance.

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‎He insisted the party has no plan to enter any political arrangement with any other party before 2027.

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‎”The leadership of the ADC is fully cognizant of the sustained pressure, political manipulation, and backchannel negotiations being orchestrated by certain elements within the so-called G100 Coalition and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in a deliberate attempt to railroad the ADC into a forced merger or alliance.

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‎”For the avoidance of doubt, let it be placed on record; The African Democratic Congress is NOT, and will NOT be, in any alliance, merger, or coalition with any political party ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he stated.

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