As political parties conclude their primary elections this week, the primary opposition bloc faces significant internal fractures. Factional squabbles and parallel primaries have threatened the opposition's collective goal of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

Unlike the ruling party, the majority of the leading opposition platforms are grappling with leadership crises, resulting in the emergence of multiple presidential candidates. Only the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)—which features former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as its sole aspirant—and Accord, led by business tycoon Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, have maintained unified fronts.

Factional Crises Deepen in PDP, ADC, and SDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

The main opposition PDP remains deeply divided following a recent Supreme Court verdict, which both rival factions claim validated their legitimacy.

• The Turaki-led NWC: Has endorsed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole presidential aspirant, with primaries scheduled for May 28. This camp also includes outgoing Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is running under a strategic alliance between the PDP and the Alliance Peoples Movement (APM).

• The Wike-backed Faction: Is fielding Senator Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate.

Both factions have independently sold nomination forms, setting up a legal and political showdown that experts warn could severely damage the party's chances at the polls.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC)

The ADC is currently split into two prominent factions:

• The INEC-Recognized Camp: Led by former Senate President David Mark and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, this faction conducted nationwide primaries utilizing the Option A4 direct voting method across 8,809 wards. The contest features high-profile figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayattu-Deen.

• The Kachikwu Faction: A rival group declared the dissolution of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and announced the party's 2023 flagbearer, Dumebi Kachikwu, as its consensus candidate for 2027.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP)

The SDP has similarly split into two camps, producing two distinct presidential candidates: Prince Adewolu Adebayo, backed by the Prof. Sadiq Gombe-led NWC, and Abimbola Atanda, representing the Shehu Gabam faction.

Smooth Sailing for PRP and Labour Party

In contrast to the friction elsewhere, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) conducted its primaries with former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke favored to win the ticket against economist Dr. Nnaoke Ufere and Yakubu Kingsley.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) is set to choose its flagbearer on May 29, following the screening and clearing of two candidates: Dr. Peter Agada, former National Treasurer of the Obidient Movement, and 35-year-old entrepreneur Samuel Nwigwe.

ADC Defends Primary Integrity, Critiques Ruling Party

During the nationwide ward congresses, prominent ADC figures Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi cast their votes in their respective home states of Adamawa and Rivers, expressing optimism about the process. Atiku characterized the simultaneous ward elections as "democracy at work" and a crucial step toward national economic recovery.

Addressing the press in Abuja, the Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primaries Election Committee, Chief Ikechi Emenike, alongside National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, defended the legitimacy of their process. They dismissed Dumebi Kachikwu’s parallel emergence, noting that the Supreme Court had already affirmed the David Mark-led leadership. Abdullahi emphasized that official notices and membership registers had been duly submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for verification.

The ADC leadership also used the opportunity to launch a sharp critique against the ruling APC, accusing it of inflating its membership figures to 20 or 30 million to lay the groundwork for electoral manipulation.

"We will not inflate our registration numbers to deceive Nigerians," Abdullahi stated, confirming that the ADC’s verified database stands at 3,444,000 members. "What the APC is doing is simply setting the stage to plant in people’s minds the idea that millions of votes are already guaranteed. It is all lies."

Official results from the ADC and PRP nationwide primaries are expected to be collated and formally announced today.