A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Ladan Salihu, has urged political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, and supporters of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients, to remain calm amid ongoing debates over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Salihu made the call while reacting to recent remarks by Utomi, who said he would withdraw his support for Obi if the former governor accepted a vice-presidential slot in the emerging opposition coalition following his defection to the ADC.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Friday, Salihu advised party stakeholders to prioritise party building rather than engaging in early contestations over the presidential ticket.
“Pat Utomi has rushed with his comment. I believe he should calm down and sober up,” Salihu said.
He explained that the ADC’s immediate focus was to strengthen its internal structures and establish itself as a credible opposition platform.
“We are trying to recruit members, put the party together, and articulate how we will perform our role as a mega opposition party,” he said. “That should be the issue on the table, not the presidential election at this stage.”
According to him, the party should concentrate on expanding its reach and communicating its vision to Nigerians across the country.
“We should be looking at how to grow the party, market it, and take its message to the nooks and crannies of the country,” Salihu added.
Responding to calls by Obi’s supporters that the former governor must emerge as the ADC’s presidential candidate, Salihu cautioned against placing conditions on party participation.
“They should calm down. In politics, you don’t join a political party with conditionalities and preconditions,” he said.
He noted that party members were expected to contest through democratic processes rather than ultimatums.
“You join as a member, gather your support, present your credibility and sell yourself to delegates. Eventually, the delegates will decide,” Salihu stated.
He further warned that a “win-or-nothing” approach was undemocratic and could undermine the broader objective of building a strong opposition.
“The idea of someone insisting that it must be his presidential candidate or nothing is anti-democratic, not just in ADC but in any political party,” he said.
