For the first time since the 2023 elections, Nigeria’s fragmented opposition appears to have found a united front—and a platform. In a move that has rattled the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the anti-Tinubu coalition, long dismissed as toothless, has officially adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its vehicle to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The unveiling of the ADC as the opposition’s chosen party signals a major political realignment, especially as it comes amid internal crises within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP)—and a flood of defections to the APC.
For many political observers, it seemed Nigeria’s democracy was veering dangerously toward a one-party state. But behind the scenes, opposition leaders—led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—were quietly plotting a counteroffensive.
A Coalition of the Willing, Not the Weak
Rejecting the idea of building on the PDP’s troubled foundation, opposition leaders weighed two options: create a new party or take over an existing one. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and ADC emerged as front-runners. While the public was distracted by Atiku’s filing to register a new party—the All Democratic Alliance (ADA)—negotiations with ADC were being finalized.
The defection of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the SDP was reportedly a smokescreen to mislead the APC. But the real shock came last week: David Mark, former Senate President, was unveiled as ADC’s protem chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, a former Tinubu loyalist and ex-Minister of Interior, emerged as National Secretary.
With this move, what was once a docile opposition coalition is now a strategic alliance of political heavyweights. The goal is clear: to wrest power from Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
ADC: The New Bride of the Opposition
While Tinubu’s inner circle reportedly pressured Abdullahi Ganduje to resign as APC chairman in a damage-control move, the momentum has clearly shifted. Analysts warn that dismissing the ADC coalition would be a grave miscalculation.
“The economic hardship, rising poverty, and disillusionment under Tinubu’s administration are pushing voters away from the APC,” a source close to the coalition said. “The opposition is riding that wave.”
And that wave might get even stronger. More defections—possibly from sitting governors—are expected in the coming months, as ADC becomes the bride of political suitors disenchanted with Tinubu's leadership.
Could an Atiku-Obi Alliance Seal the Deal?
Political analysts are unanimous: if the ADC can field a joint Atiku-Peter Obi ticket, Tinubu’s reelection bid could be in serious jeopardy.
Obi’s performance in the 2023 election shook Nigeria’s political establishment. Backed by his massive youth-led Obidients Movement, he snatched PDP strongholds and created electoral upsets across southern and central Nigeria. Atiku, with his long-standing political machinery and dominance in the North, would make a perfect counterbalance.
Together, they could form the most formidable presidential ticket since Tinubu-Buhari in 2015.
But There Are Hurdles Ahead
Akinloye Oyeniyi, a legislative consultant, warns that the ADC may already be off to a legally shaky start.
“The abrupt leadership change from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark violates the Electoral Act, which requires a 21-day notice to INEC before such changes. As it stands, that transition may not be recognised by law,” he cautioned.
He also questioned the sustainability of an Atiku-Obi ticket, saying, “The 2027 dynamics are different. If Obi isn’t the presidential candidate, his movement might pull out. Also, PDP’s exclusion from the coalition may affect northern bloc votes.”
Datti Baba-Ahmed: 'Don’t Be Consumed by Excitement'
Datti Baba-Ahmed, Obi’s 2023 running mate, admitted he is considering joining the ADC coalition but warned against uncritical optimism.
“This coalition is playing Tinubu’s 2013 game, and they don’t have a ‘distant anointed’ like Buhari was. The primaries will be brutal, and maybe not even clean,” Baba-Ahmed told ARISE TV.
Still, he endorsed the principle behind the coalition, calling it a “morally right move” in the face of national hardship and democratic decline.
Presidency Reacts: ‘Desperate Power Grabbers’
Expectedly, the Presidency has fired back. In a statement on Thursday, it described the ADC coalition as a “hollow alliance of political desperados”, motivated not by ideology but “bitterness, ambition, and personal vendettas.”
The statement insisted that the opposition’s internal contradictions and lack of clear leadership will ultimately destroy the alliance.
Bottom Line: The Opposition Has Found a Platform. Can It Find a Candidate?
With the ADC now the official face of Nigeria’s opposition, the battle lines for 2027 are drawn. The real question is who will lead the charge. Will Atiku and Obi bury the hatchet and team up? Will Obi go it alone? Will Aregbesola bring in more Tinubu defectors?
One thing is clear: Tinubu will not coast to victory this time around.
