The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified that the recent gathering between former President Goodluck Jonathan and ADC leaders, including the national chairman Senator David Mark, was a private affair.
When questioned by LEADERSHIP Weekend about the meeting’s purpose, ADC’s adc-dismisses-datti-baba-ahmed-criticism-commits-coalition/” title=”2027: … Shrugs Off Datti Baba-Ahmed's Criticism, Reaffirms Strong Coalition Commitment”>national publicity secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated, “It was a confidential meeting. We were not informed about the details of their discussion.”
Nonetheless, an insider familiar with the meeting described it as informal and friendly rather than politically charged.
“It was more of a social visit than a political engagement. The mood was relaxed and cordial,” the source, who preferred to remain anonymous, told LEADERSHIP Weekend.
The closed-door session took place on Thursday evening in Abuja, with Senator Mark and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, joining Jonathan.
In addition to Mark and Lawal, ADC’s spokesperson Malam Bolaji Abdullahi was also present, as seen in a video circulating on social media.
This meeting occurred just a day after Jonathan, at a memorial mass for the late former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbeh, expressed that he holds no resentment towards those who opposed him politically.
Investigations reveal that some ADC members had previously worked against Jonathan’s bid for a second term in 2015.
Interestingly, this encounter with Jonathan followed an earlier ADC leadership meeting chaired by Senator Mark. Attendees included the party’s national secretary Ogbeni Rauf, national publicity secretary Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Other notable figures present were former Sokoto State governor Senator Aminu Tambuwal, ex-Kwara State governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Ali Pantami, and Babachir Lawal.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi was absent but sent his apologies and reaffirmed his commitment to the party.
During the meeting, the ADC’s presidential hopefuls agreed to support whichever candidate emerges as the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 elections.
They also rejected the adoption of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) by party leaders and instructed all members to renounce affiliations with other political parties, although no specific deadline was provided.
Currently, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Chibuike Amaechi have all declared their intentions to seek the ADC’s presidential nomination for 2027.
It is worth noting that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been courting both Jonathan and Obi to rejoin its ranks with hopes of securing the party’s ticket in the upcoming election. Notably, Jonathan and Obi also met two weeks prior to this gathering.
