Former Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Mallam Salihu Lukman, has said whoever will fly the ticket of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, coalition in the 2027 election must earn it by winning at the primary.

This comes as the former APC chieftain noted that the party will avoid mistakes made in the past by both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, among others willing to contest the ticket of the party.

Speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday, Lukman appealed to all supporters of the various presidential aspirants to join hands with the coalition to rescue Nigeria from the hands of President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “Once the opposition leaders are divided, if by 2027 we present more than one candidate, it’s as much as granting victory to APC and President Asiwaju. So as much as possible, we must keep the opposition together, and in keeping the opposition together, it’s not about asking anybody to step down.

“And I appeal to the Obidients and other groups to really understand that the ADC and the coalition are the home for them. And they should come, and let’s build ourselves together.

“If Peter Obi emerges as the presidential candidate of ADC, we will all support him and strengthen him to overcome the shortcomings of the past.

“So also, any other, if it is Atiku Abubakar that emerges, for instance, we will support him and strengthen him in such a way that he doesn’t repeat the mistakes of former President Buhari.

“So I think these are issues that, as citizens, as Nigerians, we must be very honest and frank in engaging them if we are going to move this country forward. This is the kind of debate we want to have in ADC.

“Everybody will slug it out in the presidential primary, apparently.”