Reactions have continued to trail the unveiling of the opposition coalition party, African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The formation of a broad alliance under the ADC has brought together several political heavyweights, sparking intense debate across the country.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria’s democracy is under heightened scrutiny, ranging from questions about electoral credibility to calls for greater political inclusiveness and institutional accountability.
All eyes are on the opposition politicians to see how the coalition might reshape the nation’s political landscape.
DAILY POST reports that the opposition coalition adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as its political party ahead of the 2027 general elections as a major step in their efforts to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The party installed former Senate President, David Mark, as its interim national chairman, while the immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was appointed as the national secretary.
DAILY POST reports that barely 24 hours after the unveiling of the coalition in the nation’s capital city, Abuja, a major faction kicked against the move to adopt the party as its political platform.
The faction’s national publicity secretary, Musa Isa Matara, in a statement, warned that the ADC is not a “private coalition platform” to be hijacked by political elites. The faction expressed outrage over what it described as a unilateral decision made without input from critical stakeholders.
Reacting to the emergence of the coalition party, Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, said the coalition holds no hope of survival.
“They will quarrel among themselves over everything. Everybody in that coalition suddenly wants to be president all at the same time, and they will not be able to agree,” he said.
As the political battle gets underway, some Nigerians have expressed their views on the developments.
Speaking to DAILY POST, an entrepreneur, Hassan Alowonle, said the coalition of various political parties to form ADC is not a new phase in Nigerian politics, stressing that when members of some political parties find it difficult to have an influence in the current system, they merge to unseat the current government in the coming elections.
According to him, the trend is becoming a culture and a yardstick in Nigeria political apparatus.
“In 2013, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was formed through the merger of three major Nigerian opposition parties and a fraction of another: the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. This merger aimed to create a strong opposition party to challenge the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in which APC later won the 2015 elections.
“Whenever there is a coalition, there is a tendency for that party to emerge as the winner of the elections—breaking the political hegemony of the current party. The registration of African Democratic Congress by members of different parties has shaped the party’s ideology bringing the members to the main business for the merging,” he said.
Another Nigerian, Rufai Omeiza, an electrician, stated that the opposition party, ADC, was in good position to oust president Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, come 2027, urging members to shun personal interest and work for the common goal of taking power in 2027.
“By observing the coalition opposition party, African Democratic Congress and its members, they appear ready to unseat the current political party in all ramifications in the 2027 presidential elections.
“That indicates that the party is strategically mapping its members and voters ahead of the elections.
“Moreover, for the coalition to achieve its goals, just like the APC was able to ascend the Presidency in 2015, personal interest should be buried so as not to aggravate disunity among members of the party.
“However, nobody can tell if the coalition party would unseat the current government because whoever beheaded someone with a sword will not allow a sword to be swung behind him.
“The All Progressive Congress will not play the victim card in the coming 2027 elections unless all electoral bodies work against the party and the candidates,” he added.
On his part, Mcfredericks Akor Edache, Benue state officer of Tracka, a community of citizens ensuring public funds work for their communities, said the 2027 general elections would be a game changer in the Nigerian polity if the difference happening now in the political arena is clearly distinguished.
According to him, if the ruling party succeeds, it may mean that regardless of the momentum of the coalition party in the future, the position of the ruling party is unshakeable, adding that if the coalition party succeeds in taking over power from the ruling party, it may mean that any coalition party in the future is most likely to achieve its purpose.
“Coalition in many facets of life is intended to create a formidable force that will bind the essence of their existence. Most coalitions in the circular society usually do what they are set to do and achieve it.
“Because of my strong belief in the power of coalition, I know that the coalition of political parties in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections will do great things that will drive it towards absolute success which is why the ruling party is also doing whatever they need to do to maintain the stronghold.
“Like the saying, when the hunter learns to shoot without missing, the birds learn to fly without perching. The ruling party is in serious consultation and overhauling and anyone who isn’t competent to lead them to victory will be shown the way out.
“The political game in Nigeria now isn’t as it had been years back. It presents more transparency that anyone who manipulates the process will be noticed. It takes a headstrong approach to manipulate elections in Nigeria because everyone knows who they vote for and who should win. Thus, although the ruling party has an advantage to maintain power, they know it won’t come on a platter of gold,” he submitted.
Edache further advised the coalition to be steadfast and decisive in what the electorates want and not what they think is right, stressing that if it focused on a consensus candidate which is the people’s choice, the chance of winning is high because in the end, it’s not the the coalition that votes but
He tasked the coalition to work with the people to decide who bears the flag.
“The ruling party, on the other hand, should as a matter of public interest focus on what the public need and not what their party ideology holds.
“Yes, the politicians are working but are they working the work that the people truly want? Focusing on what the people want will help in keeping them in power.
“What the people really want now, of course among other things, is to tackle insecurity so that farmers can go to their farms, villagers can return to their ancestral homes from where they’ve become fugitives, our roads should be safe away from kidnappers, youth useful engagement so as to minimize fraudulent acts.
“The time to do what the public wants is now, especially for the ruling party. If we remain in the current pathetic situations we’re in now, the electorate will seek a messiah president and any candidate but the sitting president is a suitable option,” he added.
Also speaking to DAILY POST, a business administrator, Augustine Oyiwona, hailed the coming of the coalition, emphasising that it was a dream come true for the good people of Nigeria.
He said, as a new political organization, the party will struggle with low visibility and limited public awareness compared to dominant parties like the PDP and APC, especially when competing against the well-established political giants.
According to him, maintaining unity and avoiding factionalization is always a challenge for new political movements of this nature.
“Nonetheless, I see a brighter future for this noble movement aimed at rescuing the country from the hands of recycled politicians.
“The movement has what it takes to unseat President Tinubu, especially if a popular and widely accepted candidate like Peter Gregory Obi is adopted as their presidential candidate,” he stated.
On his part, Joseph Adah, said it is not politically wrong to form a coalition involving political groups/parties with same goal and objectives, stressing that the current ruling party practiced coalition which enabled them to unseat the then incumbent government in 2015.
He urged the newly formed opposition coalition to have a unanimous agreement within party members to have a consensus candidate to achieve their aim of unseating the current government.
“Unseating President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress by the coalition is 100% conditional and the simple condition is only when they produce a consensus candidate in the person of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.
“The idea of producing Mr. Peter Obi as the coalition consensus candidate is simple. Peter Obi has been a presidential candidate that is loved by most Nigerian youths as the driving force of our electioneering activities with so much popularity and also, loved by both men and women alike with a perceived idea of fixing Nigeria compared to every other candidate in the coalition.
“Peter Obi is a southerner and by political arrangements so far in the country, it’s politically and logically right for a southerner to rule the country for 8 years before power should be rotated to the North and so far, a Southerner is rounding up only 4 years of the administration soon,” he concluded.
Similarly, another concerned Nigerian, Joe Akogwu, welcomed the idea of having a coalition party to wrestle power with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Normally, any government without opposition is anarchy, but, here in our country Nigeria, the sitting government will do anything within their reach to retain the seat.
“Tinubu might find it difficult winning the forthcoming election because of what is coming from the Northern elders and the decision of changing his Vice.
“I don’t see the coalition unseating the present government in 2027, however, anything can happen,” he posited.