Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former special adviser on political affairs in the office of the vice-president, says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could face internal collapse if Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

Baba-Ahmed spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television.

He said Atiku is well-positioned to secure the ADC ticket if the party holds a national convention.

“If ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will, because that’s what former Vice-President Atiku wants, he will get the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“And then, a lot of people will walk out because a lot of people are in that party only for the same thing. They want the ticket.”

He said the ADC currently hosts several prominent political figures whose ambitions would inevitably clash during the selection process.

Baba-Ahmed said the party’s internal balance could be further strained by the expectations of Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state.

“One of the reasons Peter Obi is saying, ‘Look at me, I’m not here for number two, I’m not here for convention, I’m here to fly the flag,’ is that he has people who were initially whispering politely to him,” he said.

“But now they are saying, ‘Join the queue. You’re not the only one with ambition here.”

The former political adviser said Obi is more accustomed to being adopted as a consensus candidate than contesting competitive primaries.

“Peter Obi doesn’t do convention. He just goes there to be anointed,” he said.

“So, the ADC will bleed after its convention because almost certainly former Vice-President Atiku will win the ticket, and when he does, some people will walk out, it will be severely damaged.”

A Magistrate Court in Sagamu area of Ogun State has adjourned the trial of Adeniyi Kayode to February 25, 2026.

Kayode is a 46-year-old driver involved in the fatal accident that killed heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami.

The driver was charged to Sagamu Magistrates Court on January 2, with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding over the case.

He was on trial for a four-count charge, which includes dangerous driving causing death, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F: 135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State), reckless and negligent driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the same Act.

The other two charges included driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act, and driving without a valid national driver’s licence, contrary to Section 10 (1) of the Federal Highway Act.

When the case came for hearing, the prosecution counsel, Nijiwe Richard, called for the adjournment of the case to allow the prosecution counsel to duplicate the case tile to the office of the Attorney General of the state through the office of the Department of Public Prosecution for advice and in the interest of justice

The request was initially rejected by the counsel to the defendant, Abiodun Olalekan, who expressed the readiness to forge ahead with the case.

Giving her ruling on the request for adjournment, the court granted the application and adjourned the case to the 25th of February for further hearing.

The defendant was granted bail for ₦5,000,000 with two sureties.

Joshua lost his two friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29, 2025.

The Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck, and Joshua and the driver sustained minor injuries.

Anthony Joshua was later discharged from the hospital after being deemed clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.

The former world heavyweight champion, along with his mother, visited the funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects to Ayodele and Ghami, as their bodies were being prepared for repatriation.

He later travelled to the United Kingdom for their funeral.

The remains of Ghami and Ayodele were flown back to the United Kingdom, where a funeral prayer service was held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque.

Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer and close confidant, were widely regarded as central figures in the boxer’s camp. Their deaths sent shockwaves across the international boxing community.