Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has publicly backed a potential presidential ticket combining Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi for the 2027 general election. Momodu made the endorsement during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today programme on Tuesday. He proposed that the two opposition figures run together under the ADC platform, suggesting that their combined appeal could reshape the country's political landscape. Atiku Abubakar, a former vice-president and perennial presidential aspirant, contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election. Peter Obi, who ran as the Labour Party candidate in the same election, finished third in the official results. Momodu described the pairing as a strategic move that could harness both men's strengths and broaden the ADC's national reach. The ADC, a minor party, has struggled to gain significant traction in previous national elections. Momodu's suggestion does not indicate an official party position, nor has either Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi confirmed any formal alliance.
Dele Momodu's push for an Atiku-Obi ticket under the ADC reveals more about his personal political ambitions than any viable electoral strategy. As a publisher-turned-party chieftain with a long history of media-driven political commentary, Momodu is using his platform to position himself as a kingmaker, despite the ADC's minimal presence in Nigeria's electoral architecture. His proposal hinges on the charisma of two men who already lead major opposition forces, ignoring the structural realities of party strength and voter registration.
The suggestion emerges in a context where minor parties routinely serve as exit ramps for disillusioned big-party members rather than credible alternatives. The ADC holds no governorship and minimal legislative seats, making Momodu's vision more aspirational than practical. Atiku and Obi, despite their popularity, have not indicated interest in abandoning their established bases for a party with negligible infrastructure. Momodu's endorsement also sidesteps the intense rivalry that defined their 2023 campaigns, where their supporters often clashed online and in public spaces.
For ordinary Nigerians, especially young voters drawn to Obi's brand of politics, this talk offers little beyond political theatre. It does not address voter access, party funding, or electoral reforms that would make such a coalition meaningful. If anything, it risks diluting the momentum built around issue-based campaigns.
This fits a recurring pattern in Nigerian politics: media-savvy figures leveraging visibility to manufacture relevance, often without institutional backing or grassroots engagement.
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