The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified that a recent meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and leaders of the party, including its national chairman, Senator David Mark, was private. Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the national publicity secretary of ADC, stated that the party was not privy to the specific conversations held. However, an authorized source described the gathering as convivial and not heavily political, calling it “just a visit.”

The closed-door meeting took place on a Thursday night in Abuja, with Senator Mark and former Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, in attendance alongside Jonathan. Malam Bolaji Abdullahi was also reportedly present. The meeting followed Jonathan’s public declaration at a requiem mass that he held no grudges against those who had politically opposed him, a statement notable as some current ADC members had worked against his 2015 re-election bid.

This private encounter came shortly after a broader ADC leaders’ meeting led by Senator Mark. The gathering included prominent political figures such as the party’s national secretary, Ogbeni Rauf; national publicity secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai; former Rivers governor Chibuike Amaechi; former Sokoto State governor Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former Kwara governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Ali Pantami; and Babachir Lawal, among others. Labour Party’s former presidential candidate Peter Obi was absent but sent apologies and reiterated his commitment to the party.

During the ADC leaders’ meeting, presidential hopefuls within the opposition coalition agreed to support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election. They also rejected the adoption of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) by party leaders and mandated that all members resign from other political parties, although no deadline was provided. Currently, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Chibuike Amaechi have expressed interest in contesting for the party’s presidential ticket.

This development is significant as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reportedly been attempting to woo both Jonathan and Obi back into its fold with the prospect of them flying the party’s flag in 2027, and Jonathan and Obi had independently met two weeks prior.