The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADP), Hon. Chinazam Ike, has dismissed speculation that the party could adopt former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections. Ike, the younger brother of veteran Nollywood actor Emeka Ike, made the clarification while discussing the ADP’s campaign plans, opposition coalition talks, and policy positions on Nigeria’s economy, security, education, and electoral reforms.
ADP and ADC Are Separate Parties, Says Ike
Asked whether he would consider stepping down for Atiku Abubakar if opposition parties reached an agreement, Ike said he was not aware of any such arrangement. He stressed that the ADP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are distinct political parties with their own candidates and structures.
“I don't think such a thing can happen because Atiku is in the ADC. Our own is ADP. The ‘C’ and the ‘P’ are quite different,” he said.
Ike confirmed that the ADP already has its presidential and vice-presidential candidates and would focus on winning the 2027 election. “Our national chairman is the national chairman of ADP. We will work towards ensuring that ADP wins the 2027 election. That's it,” he added.
No Coalition Contact Yet, Campaign Council Coming
Ike disclosed that the ADP was currently assembling its campaign council and would make the structure public once ready. He also said the party was not part of any proposed opposition coalition, including reports surrounding the G100 initiative.
“Nobody has called us for any coalition,” he said, adding that the party was only aware of such discussions through media reports.
Production at the Core of ADP Economic Policy
On Nigeria’s economic challenges, Ike said the country’s fundamental problem was its failure to produce enough goods for domestic consumption and export. “The root problem of this country is production. We have to become a country that produces. There is no grammar anymore,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria must move away from excessive dependence on imports and begin to harness its agricultural, mineral, and industrial resources. “What we have been suffering from is that we lack production in almost everything we do. Tell me, what is Nigeria producing?” he asked.
According to him, the ADP’s economic thinking centres on making Nigerians more productive and ensuring the country produces goods for both local consumption and export.
Moving Beyond Ethnicity and Religion
Ike said the ADP intended to challenge the traditional political system where Nigerians often vote along ethnic, religious, or regional lines. The party would instead campaign around ideology and a new approach to governance.
“We are talking about moving away from the method of dividing Nigeria through religion, ethnicity and all of those things. Now, we are talking about ideology,” he said.
He explained that the party was deliberately keeping some aspects of its political strategy private until the appropriate time, arguing that publicly announcing every policy idea could allow opponents to copy or undermine it.
Technical Education Key to Production
Ike called for a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s education system, with greater emphasis on technical and practical education. He said the country has placed too much emphasis on theoretical qualifications without adequately equipping young people with practical skills for production.
“We have to move away from theoretical education to technical education, which is also geared towards production,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria needed an education system capable of producing inventors, technicians, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs rather than one focused primarily on accumulating academic degrees.
ADP Backs State Police and Technology in Security
On insecurity, Ike advocated the adoption of state police, arguing that state governments and local communities were better positioned to understand and respond to security challenges within their areas. “For me, I believe state police should be embraced. We need to hand it over to the states and let the states be directly in charge of what is happening,” he said.
He acknowledged efforts by the current government to tackle insecurity but called for stronger strategies and greater use of technology. He also warned against ignoring what he described as internal sabotage. “We have to look inward and see who is sabotaging us, rather than blaming somebody else,” he said.
Ike argued that the fight against insecurity must also address poverty and youth unemployment, saying empowering young Nigerians and creating opportunities would help reduce crime.
Love and Unity as Campaign Message
Ike said the ADP intended to make love, tolerance, and national unity central to its campaign, describing intolerance and division as underlying problems affecting Nigeria. “We have to give people national orientation and grassroots orientation, not just at the national level,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians must begin to see themselves as members of one family regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation. “When we have love and unity, we will be able to fight sabotage. When there is love and unity, we will be able to help ourselves,” he said.
ADP to Protect Its Votes in 2027
On the electoral process and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ike said the party would not rely solely on the electoral body to protect its interests. He disclosed that the ADP planned to deploy party agents across the country to monitor the electoral process and safeguard its votes.
“INEC will not come and secure our votes for us. As a party, we have to secure our team ourselves,” he said.
He said the party intended to have agents across all 774 local government areas and polling units to ensure its votes were properly monitored and protected.
Loyalty to Presidential Candidate
Asked about the possibility of disagreements between a president and vice-president, Ike said his relationship with his principal would be built on total loyalty. “Everything that has to do with life is about loyalty,” he said.
He stressed that both candidates shared the same political ideology and that disagreements, where they occurred, would be handled through dialogue rather than confrontation. “I’m 100 percent loyal to him. I’m loyal to the system, and I’m also loyal to the country as a whole,” he said.
Smaller Parties Can Spring Surprises
Responding to doubts about the ability of smaller parties to compete with established ones, Ike said history had shown that political fortunes could change unexpectedly. He argued that a party with a clear ideology, committed leadership, and public support could grow into a major political force.
“People might not see it coming. The actors themselves might not even see it coming. But somehow, somewhere, the tsunami will come on board,” he said.
He added that the outcome of the 2027 election would ultimately be determined by Nigerians and, as he put it, “God’s favour.”
First 100 Days Should Restore Hope
On what Nigerians should expect during the first 100 days of an ADP administration, Ike rejected the idea of making unrealistic promises. He said the immediate priority would be to restore public confidence, present a clear blueprint, and begin the process of bringing Nigerians together.
“You have to build confidence back in your people,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s problems developed over several decades and could not realistically be solved within 100 days. However, he said an incoming administration could use its first 100 days to establish a clear direction, rebuild unity, and lay the foundation for increased productivity.
He returned to his central argument that Nigeria’s natural resources had not translated into sufficient production. “We have oil, but we are not producing enough from it. We have soybeans, but we are not producing enough. If we were producing enough, we would be exporting products just as we should be doing with cocoa,” he said.
Campaigning Against the System, Not Individuals
Ike said the ADP’s campaign would not be built around attacking individual politicians. “Don't call any name. Don't call me Atiku. Don't call me Tinubu. Don't call me anybody. It is the system that is wrong,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s political challenges were rooted in a system that had encouraged division, distrust, and competition at the expense of national development. He called for Nigerians to rebuild trust across ethnic, religious, and cultural lines.
“When I see myself in you, and you see yourself in me, Nigeria will be great,” he said.
Ike urged Nigerians to embrace love, unity, and tolerance, saying the country could overcome its challenges if citizens stopped allowing ethnic, religious, and political differences to divide them. “Love and unity are what we are supposed to preach. ADP is going to preach love and unity,” he said.
He maintained that Nigeria possessed enormous human and natural resources capable of making it one of the world’s most prosperous countries, but that the country must first overcome division and sabotage. His message ahead of the 2027 election, he said, remained simple: Nigerians must see themselves as one family, unite around a common purpose, and build a productive nation.
