Abuja, 1 July 2025 – A coalition of opposition parties in Nigeria is set to formally adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections. The decision will be finalised on Wednesday, 2 June 2027, following months of strategic deliberations among key political figures.
The coalition, unveiled on 20 March 2025, comprises prominent leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai. Initially, the group explored forming a new political entity, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA). However, concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) registration timelines prompted the coalition to pivot towards adopting the existing ADC structure.
The ADC, led by founder Okey Ralph Nwosu, emerged as the preferred choice after negotiations with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) collapsed. Sources indicate that the ADC met the coalition’s stringent requirements, satisfying the expectations of its top political figures. The decision faced minor resistance from some coalition members who advocated for pursuing the registration of a new party. By June 2025, the coalition had formally approached INEC to register the ADA, but concerns over compliance with constitutional and regulatory requirements stalled progress.
INEC has consistently maintained that party registration is a constitutional process governed by strict guidelines. The electoral body cautioned the coalition against applying public pressure, emphasising that compliance with legal and procedural requirements is non-negotiable. This stance underscored the coalition’s eventual decision to align with an established party like the ADC to ensure electoral readiness.
In a significant development, former Senate President David Mark has reportedly been endorsed as the interim national chairman of the ADC, succeeding Nwosu. If confirmed, Mark will steer the party through its transitional phase and oversee the national convention scheduled for 2026, where a new National Working Committee will be elected.
The adoption of the ADC marks a pivotal moment for the opposition as it consolidates its efforts to present a unified challenge to the ruling party in 2027. Political analysts suggest that the coalition’s strategic alignment with an existing platform could enhance its organisational efficiency and electoral prospects, provided internal cohesion is maintained.
