Nigeria’s opposition coalition has instructed its top members, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer Peter Obi, to cut ties with their political parties and fully embrace the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the joint platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
The directive followed a high-level caucus meeting of the coalition in Abuja, where senior figures resolved that the ADC would serve as the unified political vehicle for all opposition forces.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the decision was unanimous.
According to Abdullahi, concerns over the African Democratic Association (ADA), which had previously been considered as an option, have been laid to rest.
“We want to make it clear that the coalition has moved beyond the ADA. The matter is closed and the focus now is on strengthening the ADC as the common platform,” he explained.
He further noted that all coalition members have been mandated to resign from their respective political parties.
However, no deadline has been fixed for when the formal transition must be completed.
“There’s no going back on this resolution. The instruction is clear: members must identify with the ADC if we are serious about presenting a united front,” Abdullahi stated.
While several prominent politicians have already defected, others have yet to make the move official.
Atiku Abubakar has exited the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but has not formally registered with the ADC, while Peter Obi still maintains ties with the Labour Party despite attending coalition activities.
The coalition also announced that its National Working Committee will soon release the timetable for governorship primaries in Osun and Ekiti states ahead of the upcoming off-cycle elections.
Abdullahi stressed that the coalition’s presidential hopefuls have pledged to respect the outcome of the primaries.
“Whoever emerges as the candidate will enjoy the full support of all aspirants. That is the spirit of unity we are building,” he added.
The Abuja meeting was attended by influential political leaders, including National Chairman David Mark, Atiku Abubakar, National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal, and former Rivers governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition PDP have brushed off the coalition’s directive, describing it as a political experiment that poses little threat to their dominance in the 2027 elections.