ADC explains Atiku’s absence from G100 opposition summit

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has explained why its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, did not attend the G100 opposition summit held in Abuja on Monday.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Atiku’s absence should not be interpreted as a rejection of the summit or its efforts to unite opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Abdullahi said the meeting was primarily focused on discussions among political parties rather than individual presidential candidates.

“The way we understand it, the summit is more about conversation between political parties rather than conversation among candidates. It’s more about exploring cooperation opportunities among political parties,” he said.

According to him, the ADC was adequately represented at the summit, making Atiku’s physical presence unnecessary.

Abdullahi said he attended the meeting alongside several senior ADC officials, including about four national vice chairmen, and maintained that the party participated fully in the proceedings.

“So it’s not consequential that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was not present. I was there. The party was highly represented. We had like four vice chairmen there at the G100 summit. So ADC was fully represented,” he said.

The summit, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, brought together representatives of six opposition parties, the ADC, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) to discuss cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku was among several prominent opposition figures who were absent. Peter Obi of the NDC and APM presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, were also not present.

The summit nevertheless produced proposals aimed at strengthening opposition cooperation, including a framework for developing a common presidential candidate and a proposed single four-year transition government. Five working groups are expected to develop proposals on a national covenant, transition charter, reform programme, opposition-unity framework and roadmap to a common presidential candidate.

The G100 said the process was not asking any party to dissolve or any presidential candidate to immediately withdraw from the race, but was intended to establish the framework for negotiations on a possible common platform.

The development comes as opposition parties intensify efforts to build a united political front capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.

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