Coalition Drama: ADC Faction Rejects Adoption of Atiku-led Coalition Against 2027 Poll

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

A faction of African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the adoption of Atiku Abubakar, a former Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to lead the congress ahead of the 2027 poll in Nigeria.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that no sooner than the Abubakar-led coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, was reportedly adopted on Wednesday by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as platform to contest next general elections, did a faction of party members announced, via a statement released same day, their rejection of the adoption, noting that the party is not a one man's party.

OTN News further reports that the rejection statement, as sighted, was signed by the national publicity secretary of the party, Musa Matara, on behalf of the concerned stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The statement, titled “ADC is not a one-man project – A response to Rauf Aregbesola’s acceptance speech,”, added that other stakeholders who opposed the arrangements include youth leaders, women leaders, state party executives and ward coordinators nationwide.

The concerened members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said the appointment of Abubakar and other interim officials lacked due process, transparency, and the broad-based legitimacy expected in a democratic political party.

Emphasizing that African Democratic Congress (ADC) is not a private coalition platform to be hijacked by any elite group, and equally rejected the premise and process behind the appointments.

The statement reads,"The ADC is not a private coalition platform to be hijacked by any elite group or individuals—regardless of how eloquent or ideologically polished their speeches may sound."

"Our party has structures, leadership organs, youth and women wings, and constitutional guidelines—none of which were consulted or respected in the announcement of this so-called “appointment.

It further added, “Let it be known to those who are trooping into our party under this chaotic coalition arrangement that the ADC has been battling unresolved legal crises since the 2023 general elections. These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive."

The party faction maintained that millions of African Democratic Congress(ADC) members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition, warning that if anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.

We stand firmly on the side of accountable leadership, transparent decision-making, and a people-powered party structure. Any process that excludes the very people it claims to serve is undemocratic and must be challenged’, the letter emphasised.

We call on all genuine stakeholders of the ADC—across states, zones, and demographic groups—to reject this attempted takeover of our party. We are not opposed to coalitions. We are not opposed to reform. But we are opposed to hijack, to imposition, and to speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions beneath poetic language’, it added.

The statement questioned the approriacy of the earlier adoption of party leaders raising salient questions like: Can you shave a man’s hair in his absence? Can you enter a man’s house through the back door and declare yourself the landlord? Can you build something on nothing? Atiku and his co-travellers have bought bad market from someone purporting to be the chairman of the African Democratic Congress."

More importantly, the. ADC party faction observed that," For the avoidance of doubt the tenure of Ralph Nwosu lapsed three years ago", hence the adoption orchestrated by him is null and void.

In the unfolding scene of the political drama the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, reportedly stepped aside to pave way for the new interim leadership of the party, while Mark has also resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In another sequence of action, the coalition appointed a former Senate President, David Mark, and a former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, as its interim national chairman and secretary, respectively.

However, the factional group has insisted that, " Until a legitimate, constitutionally-backed ADC National Convention or NEC confirms leadership changes, no one has the moral or legal right to speak for our party nationally"