Unfolding Details | ADC

Unfolding Details and Updates about the New Coalition Party in Nigeria - ADC

Here’s the latest on the unfolding political drama surrounding Nigeria’s new opposition coalition centered on the African Democratic Congress (ADC):

The Coalition’s Emergence

• A powerful coalition of opposition figures—including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi—has adopted the ADC as its platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
• The coalition was unveiled at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on July 2, 2025.

Leadership Shake-Up

• David Mark, former Senate President, has resigned from the PDP and is now the interim National Chairman of the ADC coalition.
• Rauf Aregbesola, ex-governor of Osun State, is serving as interim National Secretary, while Bolaji Abdullahi is the spokesperson.

Coalition’s Mission

• The coalition aims to prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state, accusing the Tinubu administration of attempting to dominate all democratic institutions4.
• Their agenda includes national unity, economic reform, security, and anti-corruption.

Internal Friction

• Dumebi Kachikwu, ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, has rejected the coalition’s takeover, claiming it’s being orchestrated by a defunct faction of the party led by Ralph Nwosu.
• Activist Aisha Yesufu clarified that the ADC didn’t merge with other parties but was adopted by the coalition as a strategic platform.

Why ADC?

• The coalition reportedly chose ADC after INEC delays in registering a new party. ADC met the coalition’s criteria and offered a ready-made structure.
• The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was briefly considered but ultimately dropped.

This is a fast-moving dynamite with high stakes for Nigeria’s political future. However, let’s unpack the major players and the tensions swirling around this new ADC-centered coalition which can be termed as a political thriller in the making:

Key Political Figures in the ADC Coalition

Name	Background	Role in Coalition
Atiku Abubakar	Former Vice President; PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate	Seen as a central figure; rumored to be a potential consensus candidate
Peter Obi	2023 Labour Party presidential candidate; former Anambra governor	Advocating reform; proposed a single-term presidency to ease North-South tensions
Nasir El-Rufai	Former Kaduna governor; ex-APC heavyweight	Confirmed ADC adoption; seen as a strategic defector
Rotimi Amaechi	Former Rivers governor; ex-Minister of Transportation	Publicly resigned from APC, citing corruption and economic collapse
David Mark	Former Senate President	Now interim National Chairman of ADC; seen as a stabilizing elder statesman
Rauf Aregbesola	Former Osun governor; ex-Minister of Interior	Appointed interim National Secretary; promises to build a party rooted in “democratic values”
Bolaji Abdullahi	Former Minister of Sports	Named spokesperson; says ADC was chosen for its openness to reform
Dumebi Kachikwu	ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate	Fierce critic of the coalition; claims it’s a hijack by “yesterday’s men”
Aisha Yesufu	Activist and Obi ally	Clarified ADC was adopted, not merged; called for youth and women inclusion10
Ralph Nwosu	Founding ADC Chairman	Resigned with entire executive to make way for coalition leadership

Major Controversies and Frictions

Legitimacy of the Takeover

• Dumebi Kachikwu insists the coalition is dealing with a defunct ADC faction and that Ralph Nwosu’s tenure expired in 2022.
• He called the coalition “a bunch of geriatrics” and accused them of entering “through the back door”.
• Aisha Yesufu countered that ADC was simply adopted, not merged, and that no party can stop others from joining or using its platform.

Peter Obi’s One-Term Proposal

• Obi offered to serve only one term if chosen as consensus candidate, aiming to bridge North-South power rotation tensions.
• The Labour Party’s spokesperson rejected this, calling Obi a “political scam” and accusing him of destabilizing the party.

Ideological Incoherence

• Critics argue the coalition is a mix of former rivals with clashing ambitions and no clear policy agenda.
• Public affairs analyst Dr. Okey Ikechukwu warned that without grassroots structure and unity, the coalition may collapse under its own contradictions.

Youth and Gender Representation

• Aisha Yesufu criticized the coalition’s leadership as being dominated by “older generation men” and demanded real inclusion of women and youth in decision-making.

This coalition is seems a high-stakes gamble: a convergence of ambition, ideology, and urgency. Whether it becomes a transformative force or implodes under its own contradictions remains to be seen.

In the meantime, here’s a text-based timeline of how this coalition drama unfolded:

Timeline: Rise of the ADC Coalition

Date	Key Event
Mid-June 2025	Rumors begin swirling of a “mega opposition party” ahead of 2027.
June 26, 2025	Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, and Amaechi hold private meeting in Lagos.
June 28, 2025	Ralph Nwosu resigns alongside ADC national executives to pave way.
July 1, 2025	Peter Obi proposes a single-term presidency to unite the opposition.
July 2, 2025	Coalition is publicly unveiled at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Same day	David Mark named interim chairman, other roles filled.
July 3, 2025	Dumebi Kachikwu publicly rejects coalition’s takeover of ADC.
July 4, 2025	Aisha Yesufu clarifies ADC was adopted, not merged; tensions grow.
Early July 2025	Coalition consults legal teams to affirm control of party structures.

Brief Summary of the Power Structure

• David Mark – Interim National Chairman
• Rauf Aregbesola – Interim National Secretary
• Bolaji Abdullahi – Spokesperson
• Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Amaechi – Strategic Bloc / Presidential Potentials
• Aisha Yesufu – Civil Society Link and Equity Advocate
• Dumebi Kachikwu – Internal Opponent to Coalition
• Ralph Nwosu – Founding Chair who exited to allow new leadership