Former Senate Minority Leader and ex-PDP stalwart, Senator Biodun Olujimi, has dismissed the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) as a viable platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, citing its lack of structure and cohesion at critical levels.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Olujimi said that while she respects the prominent politicians currently rallying around the ADC—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and 2023 LP presidential candidate Peter Obi—the party is “not properly anchored” and lacks the organizational muscle required to face a national election.
“All the leaders there are my friends and my leaders,” she acknowledged, “but it is not properly anchored. The structures are not there. I would now go from number two to number five and start looking for structures at the unit level, ward level, local government, and state level—when the primaries are around the corner. That’s a no-no for me.”
ADC Is Not a Realistic Vehicle for Power’
Olujimi criticized the choice of the ADC as the coalition platform for the so-called “Third Force” seeking to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC). She argued that a more strategic coalition would have emerged under the PDP, which, despite its internal crisis, still has clearer and stronger nationwide frameworks.
She expressed doubts about the coalition’s ability to mobilize enough grassroots support in places like Ekiti State, where she hails from. “ADC has no viable structure in Ekiti. The presence is almost nonexistent. If I wanted to truly challenge the APC, it wouldn’t be through ADC,” she stated.
Her remarks come shortly after several opposition bigwigs—including Atiku, Amaechi, Aregbesola, and Obi—announced their adoption of the ADC as the platform to wrest power from Tinubu’s APC. Senator David Mark was named interim national chairman, with Aregbesola as secretary.
Peter Obi’s 2023 Rhetoric ‘Won’t Work Again’
Olujimi, a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, also dismissed the impact of Peter Obi’s 2023 campaign, arguing that the same approach will not resonate in 2027. According to her, the political climate has shifted, and President Bola Tinubu remains a formidable force.
“The rhetoric of the last election will not work again, except he comes with another gimmick. This is a man (Tinubu) who knows the terrain. He’s been in the system for very long. He knows all of us,” she said. “This is the first time we are having a dyed-in-the-wool politician as president. Beating him? That’s an uphill task.”
Olujimi emphasized that President Tinubu’s political longevity, influence, and track record of strategic alliances give him an edge that opposition candidates like Obi may find difficult to overcome.
Joining APC Was a Pragmatic Move, Says Olujimi
The senator recently decamped from the PDP to join the ruling APC, a move she defended on both ideological and strategic grounds. She described the current APC government as “pragmatic” and “resolute,” saying it was different from the APC of the past, which she once fiercely opposed.
“This government is not afraid of taking tough decisions and running with them. That is what I saw in the new APC. It’s not like other governments—taking decisions and backing down when there’s pressure. It is taking the bull by the horns,” she remarked.
Though she admitted it was not fair to abandon the PDP that gave her a platform, she believes the party lost focus after the 2023 elections and began acting “like a ruling party in opposition.” Her grassroots supporters, she said, were “glad” she made the switch.
PDP Has Lost Its Way — Olujimi
Olujimi further criticized the internal crisis in the PDP, suggesting the party had failed to reorient itself after its defeat in 2023. She said that instead of building consensus and offering Nigerians a clear alternative, the PDP became mired in confusion and complacency.
“The PDP failed to behave like an opposition party. We were acting like we were still in government even after losing. The challenges in the party were collective, but it was clear that staying there would eventually lead to working against my conscience,” she explained.
For Olujimi, aligning with the APC was the logical step to remain politically relevant and contribute meaningfully to national development. As Nigeria heads toward another fiercely contested general election, she is placing her bet on the APC’s ability to consolidate power and President Tinubu’s capacity to secure a second term.
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