Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The internal crisis rocking the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has deepened after its 2027 presidential candidate, Aliyu Bin Abbas, accused the party’s National Chairman, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, of attempting to force him out of the presidential race in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Abbas made the allegation during a television appearance as controversy continues to surround the ADP’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to reports, Abbas alleged that Sani had pressured him to sign a voluntary withdrawal form that would pave the way for him to become a placeholder candidate for Atiku, who is seeking the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Abbas questioned why he should be required to surrender his presidential ambition because of his previous political relationship with Atiku.
“Why should I sign a withdrawal form for my former boss just because he was my former boss?” he was quoted as saying.
Abbas previously worked as an aide to Atiku, but has maintained that his emergence as the ADP presidential candidate represents an independent political project.
He emerged as the ADP’s presidential candidate at the party’s national convention in Abuja in May 2026. At the time, reports said delegates from across the country ratified his candidacy after consultations among party leaders and presidential aspirants.
The controversy over his candidacy is, however, not limited to the disagreement with the national chairman.
On October 2, 2026, a separate presidential aspirant of the ADP, Dr Johnson Chukwuka, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the process through which Abbas emerged as the party’s candidate.
Chukwuka is asking the court to declare that the ADP did not conduct a valid presidential primary on May 29 and 30 and to invalidate the declaration of Abbas as the winner.
He is also asking the court to recognise him as the party’s duly elected presidential candidate from the disputed primary. The case has further complicated the party’s preparations for the 2027 election.
The ADP has also been involved in a separate dispute concerning an alleged unauthorised upload of a presidential nomination form to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal. The party reportedly petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the matter and sought an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disputed document.
INEC currently lists Yabagi Yusuf Sani as the ADP’s National Chairman.
The latest allegations also revive an issue that emerged shortly after Abbas was nominated in May, when reports circulated suggesting that he could eventually serve as a placeholder for Atiku.
The ADP had previously rejected that suggestion, insisting that Abbas was its genuine presidential candidate and not a placeholder for the former vice president.
Sani has also previously stated that the ADP would not withdraw its presidential candidate in favour of another contender. In comments reported in September, he said the party had its own candidate and would instead welcome politicians willing to support the ADP’s flag bearer.
The latest allegations by Abbas therefore place the party’s leadership in an increasingly complicated position as opposition parties continue negotiations and political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
As of the latest reports reviewed, Sani had not publicly provided a detailed response to Abbas’s newest allegation. The claims concerning an alleged attempt to replace Abbas with Atiku remain allegations and have not been established by a court.
The dispute comes less than four months before the 2027 general elections, leaving the future of the ADP’s presidential ticket subject to both internal party developments and ongoing legal proceedings.
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