Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2023 presidential candidate, has accused a faction of the party led by former Senate President David Mark of plotting to install former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the coalition’s 2027 presidential flag bearer.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Kachikwu claimed the group explicitly stated during a private meeting that their primary aim was to “take back power” in 2027, raising concerns over what he called a “pre-determined agenda” to sideline southern aspirants.

“It’s a coalition that has been designed and engineered to produce Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer  and that is an absolute truth,” Kachikwu declared. He challenged the leaders of the coalition to publicly commit to zoning the 2027 presidential ticket to the South, if their intentions were truly inclusive.

The formation of the new opposition alliance — unveiled on March 20 in Abuja — has sparked nationwide debate. The coalition includes major political figures such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi. Though many of them are yet to formally join the ADC, they have pledged loyalty to the party, which now has David Mark as interim national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu and other top officials.

In a swift response, Kachikwu on Wednesday accused the coalition leaders of hijacking the party structure and lacking a coherent strategy to lead it.

Narrating his interaction with them, Kachikwu said, “Late last year, they approached me about the coalition. Early this year, I agreed to a meeting—reluctantly—after being persuaded by a close friend. The gathering included former ministers and high-ranking officials from past administrations. Their focus was entirely on how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government had failed Nigeria.”

However, he said the group failed to address the core issue of zoning and power rotation.

“My only question to them was: since Buhari served eight years and Tinubu is currently in his first term, will you, as proponents of regional balance, support a southern candidate for the coalition in 2027? Their immediate response was, ‘We are taking our power back.’ That was the end of the conversation for me,” he stated.

Kachikwu expressed dismay that, as a southerner and former presidential candidate who placed fifth in the 2023 elections, he was effectively being told to abandon his ambition in favour of a northern candidate.

He added, “That was a clear indication that the coalition was just a vehicle to advance Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 ambition. I am throwing a challenge to the coalition today: if you are truly committed to equity and unity, then publicly declare that the 2027 presidential ticket will go to the South. Until then, your intentions remain suspect.”

The remarks come amid growing tensions within the opposition over leadership, ideology, and the path to dislodging the APC-led government in 2027, which, despite mixed results in governance, still holds significant political leverage nationwide.