In a major shakeup of Nigeria’s political scene, some of the country’s biggest opposition leaders have joined forces under a new party platform — the African Democratic Congress (ADC). They have chosen former Senate President David Mark as the interim (protem) national chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the interim national secretary.
This surprise move was announced during a high-level meeting currently taking place, and it shows that political heavyweights are already gearing up for the 2027 general elections.
Who’s in the New Coalition?
The new coalition includes some of Nigeria’s most influential politicians:
- Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate
- Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation
- Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor
- Aminu Tambuwal, former Sokoto Governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives
- John Oyegun, former APC National Chairman
- Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation
- Liyel Imoke, ex-Governor of Cross River State
- Kashim Imam and other top political figures
Even former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is part of the growing alliance.
Why This Coalition?
The group says they are coming together to remove President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC from power in 2027. They argue that Tinubu has not fulfilled his campaign promises and that his time in office has made things worse for everyday Nigerians.
According to them, Nigeria is now facing:
- Increased economic hardship
-Rising insecurity
- A feeling of “renewed hardship” rather than Tinubu’s promised “renewed hope”
They call their movement a “rescue mission”, not just politics as usual.
Why Not Another Party?
Earlier this year, after leaving the APC, Nasir El-Rufai supported the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the possible new home for the coalition. But the idea didn’t work out. SDP leaders, including its 2023 presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo, rejected El-Rufai’s plan, fearing that people loyal to Tinubu could hijack the party.
Then in June 2025, the group tried to register a brand-new political party called the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They even submitted a constitution, a manifesto, and a maize-themed logo (maize is a symbol of prosperity in Nigeria).
But the process hit a brick wall:
- INEC hasn’t approved it yet
- Another group also applied for a party with the same ADA acronym
- El-Rufai and others suspect INEC is biased because it might be loyal to the current government
With these problems and delays, the coalition finally chose to adopt the ADC, a party that already has legal status and structure.
What Happens Next?
The newly adopted ADC is now the chosen platform for this massive coalition of opposition leaders. Their goal is to unite all opposition voices under one umbrella, avoid vote splitting, and present a strong single candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
This move could change the course of Nigeria’s politics in the coming years but the big question now is: Can they really win? Only time will tell.
