Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark and other coalition leaders have officially adopted the African Democratic Congress as the platform to spearhead President Bola Tinubu’s defeat in the 2027 election.
During the unveiling, held on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were announced as the interim National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC, respectively.
Meanwhile, ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu and other members of the party’s old bloc criticised Atiku, Obi, and others, accusing them of hijacking the party and claiming they lacked the capacity to lead.
In a separate response, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, maintained that the party remains united and warned that there will be consequences for members undermining the PDP in the name of a coalition.
On its part, the All Progressives Congress dismissed the opposition leaders as retired politicians who have refused to step aside, asserting that the ruling party would easily defeat them in the 2027 elections.
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.
The PUNCH exclusively 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.
He stated, “The blatant destabilisation and infiltration of all major opposition political parties is aimed at achieving only one objective, to enhance total state capture and leave Nigerians with no alternative or options in 2027. This coalition is to prevent our country’s descent into a one-party state.
“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications.
A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians.
