David Mark cautions Atiku, Obi over presidential ambition

Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, in a statement on Tuesday said the new coalition had no favourite presidential candidate amid reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amechi, amongst others, were frontrunners for the party’s ticket for the 2027 election.

Obi has stated he was not prepared to play second fiddle, saying he was out to contest as presidential candidate. Atiku has also made it clear that he was going to fight for presidential ticket.

In the statement released by his media team in Abuja, Mark emphasised that all party members were equal stakeholders.

ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, had accused the Mark-led interim leadership of the party of being biased in favour of Atiku with growing concerns that the ambitions of the three contenders could divide the party.

In response, Mark assured Nigerians that the party would maintain complete transparency under his leadership.

Mark stated “The ADC has no preferred or favourite presidential aspirant but has set out to first put out a platform that would be attractive and acceptable to majority of Nigerians.

“We are doing this because we do not want this great ship called Nigeria to sink because if we do not rise up, and now, they will sink all of us.

“I don’t own this party more than any of our members and I urge all members to prepare to show Nigerians that ADC is a different party.

“A different party that is ready to properly run democracy in our country. All Nigerians must come together and take ownership of the ADC.”