Isaac Fayose urges Atiku to join Peter Obi after ADC leadership ruling

Isaac Fayose, the younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has publicly urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to form a political alliance with Peter Obi. The call was made in a video posted on Fayose's verified Facebook page on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The appeal comes in the context of the 2027 general elections, with Fayose arguing that a combined opposition effort is necessary to remove the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power. The statement follows a significant legal development regarding the internal leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice Peter Lifu presiding, issued a ruling on Thursday that nullified the leadership of the ADC under David Mark. The court also voided the process through which Atiku Abubakar was selected as the party's presidential candidate for the upcoming 2027 elections. This judicial decision has created a vacuum in the ADC's leadership structure and has prompted various political figures to reassess their strategic positions for the next electoral cycle.

Background

The African Democratic Congress has been embroiled in a leadership crisis that culminated in the recent court proceedings. The party's current leadership, headed by David Mark, was found to be invalid by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Consequently, the selection of Atiku Abubakar as the ADC's presidential flagbearer was also declared void.

Isaac Fayose, who is a known political commentator and the brother of former Governor Ayodele Fayose, used his social media platform to address the implications of this ruling. In the video, he suggested that the judicial outcome raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary, stating that Atiku should study the judgment closely to identify what he described as irregularities. Fayose further commented on the broader political climate, noting that the youth population appears more engaged with online narratives than with traditional political structures. Despite these criticisms of the judicial process, his primary political recommendation was for Atiku to seek a new political home within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). He explicitly called for Atiku to join forces with Peter Obi, the NDC's prominent figure, to mount a unified challenge against the APC.

Why it matters

The ruling and the subsequent call for a political realignment have significant implications for the opposition landscape in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections. The voiding of Atiku Abubakar's candidacy within the ADC removes a major opposition figure from that specific party's platform, potentially altering the balance of power among opposition groups.

For the NDC, the potential entry of a former Vice President like Atiku Abubakar would represent a substantial boost to their electoral prospects. Peter Obi, who has been a leading voice in the opposition, would be at the center of this proposed alliance. The ruling APC, currently in power, faces the prospect of a more consolidated opposition front if such an alliance materializes. The political stakes are high, as the 2027 elections will determine the next administration, and the internal disputes within the ADC have now spilled over into broader coalition-building discussions. The reaction from other political stakeholders, such as Bala Gombe who hailed the court's decision on the ADC leadership dispute, indicates that the legal outcome is being closely watched by various factions within the opposition.

What happens next

The immediate next step lies with Atiku Abubakar, who must decide how to respond to the court ruling and Fayose's public invitation. The ADC leadership, now nullified by the court, will likely need to reconvene or undergo a restructuring process to determine a new path forward, although the specific timeline for this was not detailed in the sources. Political analysts and party members will be watching for any official statements from Atiku or the NDC regarding the potential merger or alliance. The outcome of these negotiations will shape the opposition's strategy for the 2027 general elections, determining whether the parties will run separate candidates or present a unified front against the ruling APC.