Ifeanyi Uzokwe, a prominent federal lawmaker, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of orchestrating the lawmakers' defection from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 election.
Allegations Surface in Television Interview
The lawmaker made the allegation on Tuesday, May 5, during an interview on Channels TV. He claimed that he and other lawmakers, along with former lawmakers, visited Atiku and urged him to allow the presidential ticket of the party to be zoned to the South. However, Atiku insisted that the coalition was started in his house.
Uzokwe stated: "We left ADC because His Excellency Atiku Abubakar said that the coalition was formed in his house, that ADC is his party, that nobody will tell him anything."
Background of the Defection
This revelation sheds light on the tensions within the ADC and the subsequent move to the newly created NDC. The lawmaker's comments indicate that Atiku's stance on the coalition's origins was a key factor leading to their departure.
The development comes as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and lawmakers seeking strategic positions.
