In a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Senate President David Mark have thrown their weight behind the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new platform to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
At the event held on Wednesday, David Mark was introduced as the party’s interim National Chairman, with former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola stepping in as interim Secretary.
But the announcement has stirred discontent among long-standing members of the ADC. Dumebi Kachikwu, who ran as the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, accused the new coalition leaders of forcefully taking over the party, insisting they lacked the vision and credibility to lead it forward.
Responding separately, the PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, assured members that the party remained solid despite the coalition talks, warning that anyone working against the PDP from within would face strict consequences.
Meanwhile, the ruling APC dismissed the coalition’s unveiling as a gathering of yesterday’s politicians clinging to lost relevance, boasting confidently that defeating them in 2027 would be a straightforward task.
Against the backdrop of the hardships and lamentations caused by Tinubu’s economic reforms, the opposition parties are seeking to build a coalition that would defeat the President in the next presidential poll.
In a bid to present a strong challenge ahead of the 2027 elections, prominent opposition figures unveiled a new political coalition in Abuja on March 20. The development sparked nationwide discussions on the potential and effectiveness of a united opposition.
It was revealed on May 19 that the ADC had been selected as the coalition’s official political base.
In his acceptance speech, the newly interim National Chairman of the ADC, Mark, acknowledged that the efforts by the 2027 coalition to unseat Tinubu will be challenging.
“Let it be known to all that this coalition of national political opposition groups goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.
“Today marks the beginning of what we believe will be a long, difficult and tedious journey. However, it is a journey that we are prepared to undertake, united in our collective belief that no price or sacrifice is too high in the service of our fatherland,’’ he said.
The ADC interim chairman stated that within two years in office, the current administration has taken control of key democratic institutions and is gradually steering the country toward a full-blown civilian dictatorship.
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Mark criticised the current administration for what he described as a deliberate effort to weaken and infiltrate all major opposition parties, arguing that the ultimate goal was to tighten its grip on power and deny Nigerians any real choice by 2027. He said the formation of the coalition was necessary to prevent Nigeria from sliding into a one-party state.
He lamented that the country had never witnessed a government so comfortable with corruption, noting that accountability had been thrown out the window. According to him, the administration appeared far more focused on securing victory in the next election than on improving the lives of ordinary citizens struggling to survive.
Mark described a leadership so consumed by political manoeuvring that it had completely abandoned its core responsibility of governance, leaving millions to endure worsening poverty and hunger.
He further decried the alarming spread of insecurity across the country, where kidnappers and bandits continue to take innocent lives with impunity. He added that despite the daily bloodshed, there had been little meaningful action from the government to end the violence and restore safety.
He stressed that Nigerians deserved a government that would prioritise their protection and give them a sense of security within their own communities.