The newly formed coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has created a ripple in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Political stakeholders such as Abubakar Malami, John Odigie-Oyegun, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Nasir El-Rufai, and Senator Ireti Kingibe have all joined the ADC.
Others, such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Emeka Ihedioha, Gabriel Suswam, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, Solomon Dalung, Sadique Abubakar, Sule Lamido, and Liyel Imoke, have also shown interest in the opposition.
The ADC has vowed to rescue Nigerians from economic hardship, political stagnation, insecurity, and other vices.
However, instead of excitement, there is widespread scepticism. Even members of the ADC have expressed doubt over the coalition’s true motives.
The big question remains: can this coalition deliver genuine change, or is it just another chapter in Nigeria’s cycle of recycled leadership?
Is History Repeating Itself
In 2013, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), led by President Bola Tinubu, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), founded by late former president Muhammadu Buhari, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Rochas Okorocha and the New PDP (nPDP), a breakaway faction from PDP, came together to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). It successfully removed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had been in power since 1999.
The merger was initiated at that time because the PDP had been in power for a long time, and opposition parties realised they couldn’t win individually.
They were frustrated with corruption, the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, and systemic corruption under PDP rule.
The ADC coalition is now trying to pull a similar stunt against similar challenges.
While the APC was made up mainly of politicians with significant regional structures and electoral experience, the ADC coalition is currently a mix of activists, ex-governors, technocrats, and political returnees, many of whom lack a grassroots political machine.
On paper, members of the ADC have presented themselves as progressives, committed to transparency, digital governance, youth empowerment, and institutional reform.
However, will they hold firmly to what they stand for, or will their ideology take a backseat when they finally attain power?
It is often said that people rarely change at their core, they simply learn to mask their true nature more convincingly.
Let’s take a look at the political footprint of some politicians who have expressed support for the ADC coalition and see what we are working with.
Peter Obi
Former Position: Governor of Anambra State (2006–2014)
Performance:
Widely praised for fiscal prudence, infrastructure upgrades, and debt reduction.
Left billions in reserves for his successor.
Focused on education, healthcare, and anti-corruption.
Criticised for cautious spending and minimal political patronage.
Atiku Abubakar
Former Position: Vice President (1999–2007) under Obasanjo
Performance:
Played a significant role in the privatisation of public enterprises.
Accused of using the process to favour allies, though he denies wrongdoing.
Seen as an astute political operator and businessman.
Frequently criticised for alleged corruption links, though never convicted.
Nasir El-Rufai
Former Position:
Minister of FCT (2003–2007)
Governor of Kaduna State (2015–2023)
Performance:
As FCT Minister, I demolished illegal structures and reshaped Abuja’s master plan.
As Governor: introduced reforms in education and civil service.
Highly controversial due to ethno-religious tensions and mass layoffs.
Strong advocate of restructuring, but seen as divisive by critics.
Rotimi Amaechi
Former Position:
Governor of Rivers State (2007–201Criticisedr of Transportation (2015–2022)
Performance:
As Governor, I invested heavily in infrastructure and education.
As Minister: spearheaded railway modernisation, especially the Abuja–Kaduna and Lagos–Ibadan lines.
Accused of neglecting Rive,s’ politics and criticised for poor maintenance of transport projects.
Known for political loyalty and strong-headedness.
Rauf Aregbesola
Former Position: Governor of Osun State (2010–2018); Minister of Interior (2019–2023)
Performance:
As Governor: introduced Opon Imo (education tablet), school uniforms, and rebranded Osun schools.
Left Osun in heavy debt, with unpaid salaries.
As Minister, oversaw correctional service reforms but was criticised for prison breaks and security lapses.
Reputation for ideological commitment and poor communication.
David Mark
Former Position: Senate President (2007–2015); Senator for Benue South (1999–2019)
Performance:
Presided over a relatively stable Senate, loyal to PDP leadership.
Known for maintaining decorum and managing legislative crises.Criticised for overseeing a rubber-stamp legislature and opposing press freedom during his military-era past.
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Former Position:
Speaker, House of Reps (2011–2015); Governor of Sokoto State (2015–2023)
Performance:
As Speaker, known for independence and defection from PDP to APC, then back to PDP.
As Governor, he implemented education and healthcare reforms, but struggled with insecurity.
Seen as a skilled political bridge-builder the with mixed policy results.
They Are Recycled Politicians!
Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, has described the ADC coalition as a repackaging of recycled failures, insisting that they are the same political elites who have misgoverned Nigeria in the past under different party banners.
He stated that there is no clear ideological difference between the ADC coalition and the APC or PDP, calling it a “supermarket of career politicians.”
Sowore berated the coalition for ignoring grassroots movements and younger, principled voices.
On her part, the co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu has questioned the sincerity of the coalition, suggesting that many of the key actors are jumping ship from APC or PDP merely to retain power under a new guise.
“It’s not a coalition for the people, it’s a coalition for power.”
Yesufu believes the coalition lacks grassroots input and has sidelined the civic voices who sparked real momentum during the End SARS movement and 2023 elections.
A PDP chieftain, Segun Showunmi also described the ADC as a coalition of commotion, confusion, corruption, and mismanagement.
He urged Nigerians not to follow leaders who appear to hop from party to party without values.
Former 2023 ADC Presidential Candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu has accused David Mark, Atiku, Aregbesola, and others of claiming leadership without legal or moral right.
He asserted that they are greedy, entitled elites dismissive of the younger generations and grassroots realities.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Naijaonpoint, political analyst, Jide Ojo has dismissed the coalition, insisting that their intention does not not reflect the good of the country.
“It’s a mixture of people who have been left out from the dining table and wanting to chase away those who are at the dining table now.
“It is also a recycling of old politicians who cannot bear to be left out of power.
“We can also see some elements of people who want change from the current situation, but in all of these the irony of it is that the ordinary citizens are not in the equation. We are just like a pawn in their chess board.
“Some of them have been in governance corridor for 40 years. Some have been there for 24 years.
“They have serve in appointive and elective position but what have they got to show.
“Somebody who has served either as governor, minister, commissioner, what is there to prove.
“Many of them would not have joined this coalition if they were part of this government, so to that extent I have very pessimistic view about their salvation army rhetoric.”
Do you not think there might be some figures in the coalition who could have genuine agenda towards changing the country?
“There are, but they are in the minority. Will the coalition want someone like Peter Obi to have its presidential ticket.
“Do you think in good conscience think that Peter Obi can defeat Atiku Abubakar in an open conventional primary. Even if he runs in the Labour party he would still loose because the Labour party he built post 2023 has dissipated.
“Most of their elected members have defected to APC or PDP.
“With Peter Obi out of it what do you think would happen and that is why Peter Obi is a fresh fish out of water now. He needs the coalition support to win the election. The home base he had in 2023 is no longer there for him.
“Peter Obi cannot have overwhelming votes even in the southeast in 2027.
“The future of this coalition is not very bright, they started on a turbulent note. At least I know of one suit, one matter that has been filed in court. If the leadership of a party is questionable. Even if you field candidates, the court can nullify the eligibility of those candidates for not having being nominated by the right faction of the party.
“Also these are people who are not driven by any identity or ideology they want to get APC out, get Tinubu out and replace them. They cannot bear to see themselves losing out of that largesse.
“The three front line candidates have said they are committed to doing one term. Why? Because they believe their brightest chance is in 2027.
“If Atiku loses the chance to contest in 2027, he will be 80 that year and nobody will look at his side in 2031. If Peter Obi does not get the ticket in 2027, he is already 64 that means he will have to wait till 2031 when he will be close to 70.
“The system will be looking at him one kind that this one is too old now.
What do you think the ADC can do differently that would appeal to the masses. Something that says we are standing on business?
“Well what they can do differently is first to get their acts together. Also they need to put aside their obsession with 2027. This fixature with 2027 or nothing is going to ruin their chances.
“They can build a party, become a formidable force, even if they don’t win presidency in 2027 they can eye 2031. But these people that I am seeing in that coalition. They are power grabbers. They are not interested in any principle of ideology. If El-Rufai were to be our minister of power will he have joined forces with the coalition. So people like that are in a hurry to prove one thing that they can return to power. And this power grab is our bane. These are people who had the opportunities
“What did they do differently? Is it that they did not have resources?
“For them to be taken seriously let them build from bottom up. Ensure that they contest and win from local council. Let people see a difference in what their representatives in government are doing. If they want to be taken seriously they must not put all their eggs in 2027.”