Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Youth and Sports, believes the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has the political power and personality to make a serious challenge to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Dalung made this statement on Sunday while appearing on Sunday Politics, a political programme aired on Channels Television.
The former minister said the opposition party is not short of capable contenders who can confront the ruling party at the polls.
“So I think we have so many people to challenge Tinubu,” he said.
“I can decide to contest the election, and I will challenge him.”
Dalung explained that his confidence in the ADC is rooted in the quality of politicians who have aligned with the party since it was adopted as the platform of a broad opposition coalition.
He noted that the party now includes several well-known political figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor and ex-minister Rotimi Amaechi, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, former All Progressives Congress national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and former Senate President David Mark, among others.
The former minister acknowledged public concerns that the large number of influential politicians in the party could trigger internal disputes after its presidential primary.
However, he said the party had already reached a collective agreement to avoid such divisions.
“We are going to conduct a transparent primary, and we have also resolved that whoever wins a transparent primary will be the person all of us support to challenge Tinubu,” Dalung said.
“So, challenging Tinubu is not an individual issue. It’s not the issue of the candidate; it’s the issue of the party. That resolution has been issued and approved.”