In a major step toward challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, the opposition coalition, late Tuesday night, formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform.
The coalition is expected to unveil the party today (Wednesday) at a public ceremony in Abuja, where it will also present its interim leadership and key members.
As part of the new leadership structure, former Senate President David Mark has been named national chairman, former Osun State governor and immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as national secretary, and former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, as spokesperson.
Prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Sule Lamido; Tom Ikimi; Ambassador Aminu Wali; and former PDP national chairman Uche Secondus, have endorsed the move, urging fellow party members to join the coalition. They cited the failure of both the APC and PDP to meet Nigerians’ expectations.
The coalition had previously explored the possibility of registering a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), after initial negotiations with ADC and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) collapsed. However, facing challenges with registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the group returned to the negotiating table with ADC and reached an agreement to adopt it as their political vehicle.
Sources indicated that ADC maintains a strong affiliation with a former Nigerian president, and talks with the party’s original stakeholders paved the way for its formal adoption. The unveiling is scheduled for 2 p.m. today in Asokoro, Abuja.
Though Aregbesola initially declined the nomination as national secretary, he eventually accepted, citing a sense of duty and hope for the country. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized the need for value-driven political structures and ideological clarity in Nigeria’s political space.
“A political party is not a platform for opportunism,” Aregbesola said. “It is an institution built on values and accountable to the people. The ADC stands for something—it has character, soul, and a vision for justice, equality, and true freedom.”
He criticized the lack of ideological depth in many Nigerian parties, which he described as “empty shells” driven by personality clashes rather than principles. He vowed to help build a party rooted in internal democracy, inclusivity, transparency, and service to the people.
“We will create autonomous structures within the party to represent critical sectors like women, youth, farmers, security, and persons with disabilities,” he said. “We will adopt global best practices in party administration and ethics, adapted to Nigeria’s realities.”
In a communique issued after the coalition’s meeting, the PDP faction—operating under the banner of Concerned Leaders of the PDP—lamented the state of the party following its 2023 electoral loss and the exit of former national chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. The group accused the APC-led federal government of undermining democratic institutions and declared that the PDP had become chaotic and undisciplined due to internal leadership failures.
“The APC came into power on false propaganda and has become a disaster,” the communique read. “All development indices have collapsed, and life has become unbearable in Nigeria. The PDP, once a beacon of leadership in Africa, is now a shadow of itself.”
The meeting also resolved that all coalition partners must prioritize national unity, economic recovery, anti-corruption reforms, and democratic values, and must work collaboratively to win elections at all levels.
Other political figures present at the meeting included former governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and several former ministers and party officials.
The coalition emphasized that today’s unveiling of ADC in Abuja marks a new phase in Nigeria’s political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
