He Refused To Give Us Transport Fare – ADC Chairmen Express Anger Over Atiku

Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West have expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged marginalisation of the party’s structures by its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Some party officials and governorship candidates accused the former vice president of conducting political activities in the region through personal associates and loyalists rather than working directly with established party structures.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the development has reportedly generated discontent among ADC members and contributed to the slow pace of campaign activities across the South-West.

The region remains a significant political battleground for Atiku, particularly because of its influence in President Bola Tinubu’s political base. During the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu won Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states, while Atiku secured Osun State and Peter Obi of the Labour Party won Lagos State.

An unnamed party official alleged that Atiku failed to provide transportation allowances for ADC chairmen from the six South-West states who travelled to Abuja for a meeting with him on September 17.

The official said the incident angered the state chairmen, who reportedly expected greater financial and organisational support from the presidential candidate. The source further suggested that Atiku might be focusing on securing the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in the region rather than investing significantly in campaign activities there.

The disagreement was also reportedly discussed at a meeting involving ADC governorship candidates and other party leaders in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on September 4.

At the meeting, the candidates were said to have formally complained to the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, about Atiku’s alleged failure to involve the party’s established structures in his political activities.

One of the governorship candidates who attended the meeting disclosed that several ADC leaders raised concerns and insisted that Atiku should respect the party hierarchy and coordinate his campaign through recognised party structures.

The candidate, who requested anonymity, said participants rejected the alleged practice of allowing personal friends and loyalists to handle political activities that should ordinarily be coordinated by the party.

The leaders reportedly maintained that the structures responsible for producing the party’s governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly candidates for the 2027 elections should be recognised and actively involved in the presidential campaign.

Following the complaints, Atiku was said to have held a virtual meeting with South-West ADC leaders on September 5, during which he reportedly reaffirmed his commitment to the party and promised to address their concerns.

An ADC leader who attended the meeting disclosed that Atiku requested five nominees from each state for appointment to his presidential campaign committee, assuring them that the party would be more involved in his political activities going forward.

However, the party leader alleged that little progress had been made despite the assurances given during the virtual meeting.

An ADC House of Assembly candidate in Ekiti State also expressed concern over what he described as the lack of visibility of Atiku’s campaign in the region.

The candidate blamed the situation on the alleged exclusion of party members from campaign activities, insisting that the presidential candidate had largely relied on his personal associates instead of engaging the party’s established structures.

The allegations have highlighted growing concerns among some ADC stakeholders in the South-West over internal coordination, party participation and the organisation of Atiku’s campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.