By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Senator David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) has berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) for going ahead with zoning arrangements for the 2027 presidential election, tagging the move by the two parties as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said this on Tuesday when he appeared on Channels Television’s program,The Morning Brief, on Tuesday.
Mallam Abdullahi noted with regrets that the major parties-APC and ADC were more focused on political calculations than addressing the country’s urgent challenges.
According to him, “The general election is still in 2027; it’s still two years away. “Why are we so preoccupied and behaving in such a way that Nigerians begin to look at the political elite across the divides as if we don’t care about them?” he asked.
It will be recalled that the PDP had, on Monday, announced that its presidential ticket for 2027 has been zoned to the South while the party’s national chairmanship slot would remain in the North.
Similarly, the APC governors and other party leaders have endorsed President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidate for the next election.
Both parties defended their positions by citing Nigeria’s long-standing, though informal, practice of rotating power between the North and South.
The National Publicity Secretary of ADC dismissed the moves as little more than political manoeuvring.
His words, “They (APC and ADC members) are very experienced people, and they know the implications of showing their way too early.
“So, it’s either they are playing a predetermined game or baiting some people to come around,” he said.
Abdullahi however pointed out that the ADC was not built around a single aspirant, contrary to some perceptions. “In the papers yesterday (Monday), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came out to say he is going to run for presidency. Don’t forget we still have the likes of Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and others who are interested in running, and we have reiterated that they have an equal chance,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC, Abdullahi explained, is concentrating on building grassroots structures rather than being distracted by premature zoning debates.
According to him, “We are not bothered with what the PDP has done. Nigerians can see right into it. PDP people are not naïve people; they are very experienced politicians.
“For them to take that decision two years ahead of the presidential election, there must be a game on, and we can see right through it. We are not pressured; we are focused on our party,” he said.
Abdullahi revealed that the ADC has not yet decided on zoning its presidential ticket.
“What is most important to us is to convince Nigerians that we represent that alternative that can bring respite to their current sufferings. As far as the ADC is concerned, we are not having that kind of conversation now. We are focused on mobilising at the grassroots and putting up structures,” he added.
