ADC not a special vehicle for Atiku, party chieftain insists

The Punch reports on the internal dynamics of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), featuring a defense of the party's independence by chieftain Chille Igbawua. Igbawua directly addressed and dismissed persistent rumors that the ADC is merely a tool for Atiku Abubakar's presidential ambitions, asserting that the party operates transparently.

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We have sufficiently over time denied this issue that the ADC is a special-purpose vehicle for Atiku Abubakar. That certainly is untrue because nobody who has come into the ADC has been given preference over him.

Igbawua's statements aim to reassure party members and the public about the ADC's integrity, particularly in light of recent high-profile defections. He highlighted Abubakar's own declaration that this presidential run would be his last and his willingness to back another candidate, as evidence against the 'special-purpose vehicle' narrative.

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To confirm that, Atiku Abubakar himself has said that he will contest this as his last attempt at the presidency and that should somebody else win, he is very willing to support such a person.

While acknowledging the departures of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, Igbawua expressed surprise but respected their stated reasons. He maintained that internal party processes for selecting a presidential candidate would be transparent and open, suggesting that external factors might be contributing to the party's challenges. The perspective here is one of defending the party's autonomy and internal processes against external perceptions and political maneuvering.

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Peter Obi has said that he has not been maltreated by either the National Chairman or by the other contestants by reference to Atiku Abubakar.