The Atiku Abubakar-led National Coalition of Political Opposition has officially adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its new political platform, signalling a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This landmark decision, which emerged from a closed-door meeting held on Tuesday evening, has already begun to reshape the 2027 electoral landscape.
The coalition resolved to reposition the ADC as the primary vehicle through which it will contest and reclaim power from the APC, a move widely seen as a response to the increasing dissatisfaction with the current administration’s performance. As part of the agreement, former Senate President David Mark was announced as the interim National Chairman of the ADC, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was appointed interim National Secretary. Former Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, was also named as the party’s National Publicity Secretary.
Sources close to the coalition disclosed that the official unveiling of this new leadership arrangement and platform is scheduled to hold in Abuja by 2pm on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the opposition in Nigeria.
In his acceptance speech, Aregbesola expressed deep appreciation for the confidence reposed in him and emphasized that the ADC would not serve as a vehicle for personal ambition or opportunism, but as a people-centered institution grounded in democratic values and ideological clarity. Drawing inspiration from the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, he noted that the ADC must evolve into a party with soul, structure, and purpose, unlike the transactional political outfits that currently dominate Nigeria’s political space.
Aregbesola lamented the ideological void in most Nigerian parties, which he described as “empty shells” that merge and split not on policy, but on personality and raw power. He vowed to work towards building a party that champions internal democracy, transparency, youth and women inclusion, and service-oriented leadership. “We must be the party that talks about education and builds schools, that speaks of security and actually protects communities, and that believes in jobs and creates them,” he declared.
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David Mark, who recently resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) citing irreconcilable differences and leadership decay, has now become a central figure in the new opposition movement. His appointment as chairman of the rebranded ADC signals the seriousness of the coalition’s mission to challenge APC’s dominance and provide Nigerians with a credible alternative in 2027.
This major political shake-up follows a high-level opposition meeting that took place just yesterday, where prominent figures including Atiku Abubakar, Sule Lamido, David Mark, and other PDP heavyweights resolved to form a formidable coalition capable of rescuing Nigeria from what they called “the suffocating grip of the APC.” The coalition emphasized that their goal is not just to win elections, but to restore democratic integrity, rebuild institutions, and address the economic and security crises plaguing the nation.
With the ADC now emerging as the official opposition platform and backed by some of the country’s most experienced political actors, Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race is poised to be one of the most fiercely contested elections in recent history. The move has already sparked reactions nationwide, with analysts predicting a seismic shift in political alliances and voter sentiment as the new coalition begins its nationwide mobilization.
