Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, and El-Rufai among others have taken over ADC to challenge Tinubu in 2027.
In a dramatic political shift, NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that key opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai have taken over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a unified platform to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
This development, announced during a high-profile meeting in Abuja, has sparked internal tensions within the ADC, with some party members openly opposing the takeover. While figures like the party’s 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu and National Publicity Secretary Dr. Musa Matara rejected the coalition, other members, including ADC executives in Kebbi State, welcomed the move.
To pave the way for the new political alliance, ADC National Chairman Ralph Okey Nwosu and Secretary Alhaji Baba Abdullahi stepped down, handing over leadership to Senator David Mark as Interim National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as Interim National Secretary.
A Coalition of Political Heavyweights
The event drew a wide array of political veterans and former officeholders from multiple parties. Among those present were:
- Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President
- Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, 2023 Labour Party presidential and vice-presidential candidates
- Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Transportation Minister
- Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor
- Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Aisha Yesufu, and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe
- Former APC leaders including John Odigie-Oyegun, Bolaji Abdullahi, and Salihu Lukman
- Former PDP stalwarts such as Babachir Lawal, Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke, and Gabriel Suswan
Also in attendance were military veterans, former governors, party executives, and activists—signaling a broad-based effort to mount a formidable opposition ahead of the next general election.
Resistance and Rejection Within ADC
Despite the momentum, the takeover has not been universally accepted. Dumebi Kachikwu denounced the coalition, likening it to political hijacking:
“You can’t build something on nothing. These yesterday’s men have bought a bad market. Nigerians want new names, fresh ideas, not recycled ambitions.”
Dr. Musa Matara echoed these sentiments, stressing that the coalition’s leadership changes lacked due process and legitimacy:
“ADC is not a private platform for elite hijack. The structures of the party were neither consulted nor respected.”
APC Reacts: Keyamo, Nwosu Dismiss Impact
Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo welcomed the development, saying it ultimately weakens the opposition:
“This coalition is nothing more than Atiku’s PDP faction in search of a 2027 ticket. Their declaration for ADC marks the dismemberment of the PDP. The APC has lost absolutely nothing.”
Former ADC chairman Ralph Nwosu dismissed dissenting voices like Matara, declaring them non-members and warning that “we must be ready for this battle.”
David Mark Accuses Tinubu of ‘State Capture’
In his acceptance speech, Senator David Mark accused President Tinubu of authoritarianism, alleging:
“The Tinubu administration has hijacked democratic institutions and pushed Nigeria toward one-party rule. This coalition is our response to that creeping dictatorship.”
He said the coalition is committed to rebuilding Nigeria’s democracy and providing a genuine alternative in 2027.
Amaechi Officially Quits APC, Joins Coalition
Former Minister Rotimi Amaechi confirmed his resignation from the APC, citing the country’s worsening economic conditions and insecurity:
“Nigeria is destroyed. People can’t buy food. Inflation is at its peak. INEC is compromised. We must not just start a party, but a movement.”
He further declared that President Tinubu was never fit to govern and that “people are already missing Buhari.”
Obi Proposes One-Term Deal
Labour Party’s Peter Obi, through his ally Yunusa Tanko, submitted a proposal to serve only one term if elected in 2027. Tanko described the move as “a statement of integrity,” adding:
“Stabilising electricity alone under his leadership will transform the economy.”
PDP Reacts, Vows to Punish Defectors
The PDP, through Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, issued a stern warning to party members fraternising with the new ADC coalition:
“We will take action against those undermining our unity. The 2027 election will be determined by Nigerians, not defections or distractions.”
Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi also clarified that Governor Ademola Adeleke remains loyal to the PDP and is not part of the coalition.
“We’re in Talks with Northern Governors” – Coalition Source
A source within the coalition disclosed that several northern APC governors are in talks to join the alliance, assuring that “no northern governor will defect to the APC before 2027.”
As Nigeria’s political landscape begins to take shape ahead of the 2027 elections, this unprecedented coalition—despite internal wrangling and skepticism—could mark a new chapter in the country’s opposition politics. Whether it becomes a united movement or falters under competing interests remains to be seen.