Atiku engages South-East power brokers ahead of ADC 2027 primaries

2026-03-04 - 14:57

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday night held a closed-door meeting with key South-East political figures in Abuja, in what sources described as a strategic move to consolidate support ahead of the presidential primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting, which combined an Iftar dinner with political consultations, signals Atiku’s early positioning within the party as it begins internal realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. Sources familiar with the discussions said talks centred on political collaboration, alliance-building and the South-East’s role in the ADC’s national strategy. Broader national issues, including unity, economic challenges and security concerns, were also reportedly discussed. The gathering took place at the Abuja residence of Sir Chikwe Udensi, an ADC chieftain and security expert, and attracted a cross-section of prominent Igbo political stakeholders. Among those in attendance were Senator Augustine Akobundu; Chief Chekwas Okorie; former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Dr. Osita Oruche; Prof. Onyi Nwagbara; Chief Uchenna Okogbuo; former ADC National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu; Hon. Uzoma Abonta; Hon. Uko Nkole; Etigwe Uwah (SAN); Dr. Steve Nwadiuko; Dr. Dave Eboh; Senator Frank Ibezim; and Chief Morris Eboh, among others. Atiku was accompanied by close associates, including Dr. Kassim Ibrahim and Prof. Ahmadu Shehu, while some northern political figures were also said to have participated in the wider consultations. Party insiders described the engagement as crucial to shaping the ADC’s internal direction ahead of its primaries. As of the time of filing this report, Atiku had not issued any public statement on the outcome of the meeting through his verified social media platforms. According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties are expected to conclude their primaries by May 30, 2026, while the presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027. Observers note that the latest outreach mirrors Atiku’s previous consultations with South-East stakeholders during the 2022 election cycle, though Tuesday’s meeting was deliberately low-key and party-focused.