ADC Advances Takeover of PDP Structures in Northern States as 2027 Coalition Gathers Steam

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified efforts to position itself as the leading opposition platform ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The party has successfully taken over structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, and several other northern states as part of a broader coalition plan. This shift comes amid ongoing talks with high-profile figures from both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), although many of those approached are yet to formally defect.

Confirming the party’s growing presence, Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said the PDP executives in the affected states had aligned with the ADC. He credited Atiku’s leadership for galvanising opposition groups, describing the coalition as a necessary response to what he termed a drift toward one-party dominance. Comparing the coalition-building process to a young marriage, Ibe acknowledged the initial frictions but stressed that compromise and collaboration would strengthen the alliance over time. He predicted that by year’s end, any resistance to the coalition would be politically inconsequential.

However, the PDP leadership has pushed back. Chairman of the PDP State Chairmen Forum and Imo PDP Chairman, Austin Nwachukwu, dismissed the reported defections as fake news and described those leaving as politically irrelevant. He maintained that the PDP remains united and resilient despite internal shifts and defections.

As the ADC expands its base, the party’s Interim National Spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, reiterated its vision as a broad coalition dedicated to addressing national issues rather than engaging in personal attacks. He projected that members from other opposition parties, including the SDP, Labour Party, and NNPP, would soon join the growing alliance.

Meanwhile, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has refuted reports that he is leading a group of six APC governors into the ADC. Calling the story a fabrication, Zulum reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and urged the public to disregard what he described as politically motivated misinformation. In a statement through his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, Zulum said he remains committed to rebuilding Borno and dismissed the rumour as a distraction from the state’s development efforts.

In a related development, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, clarified that although the ADC has been adopted as the coalition’s political platform for 2027, he remains a member of the Labour Party. Appearing on Channels Television, Obi explained that the coalition is open-ended and inclusive, aiming to unite parties and individuals committed to national progress. He confirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election but denied rumours of planning to run as a vice-presidential candidate.

Obi also defended his decision to work with politicians from past administrations, arguing that experience—whether from success or failure—is vital for national reconstruction. He noted that even failed administrators bring valuable insights into what went wrong and how systems can be improved.

However, the ruling APC dismissed the opposition’s coalition as a sham. National Secretary of the APC, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, called the alliance a deceptive rebranding of political defectors rather than a genuine merger. He said it lacked the structure and legitimacy of the APC’s 2015 formation and accused opposition leaders of misleading Nigerians.

Basiru also rejected claims that the APC was alarmed by the ADC’s momentum. He said the APC was consolidating gains across Nigeria, particularly in regions where its presence was historically weaker. He described those leaving their parties to join the ADC as frustrated and “internally displaced politicians.”

In a strong critique of the federal government’s reform agenda, the ADC accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of prioritising political optics over real solutions to economic hardship. The party said the government’s recent announcements—such as lifting bottlenecks on food security—were triggered by fear of growing opposition ahead of 2027. In a statement by Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that the administration had only acted due to rising pressure from an invigorated opposition, not out of concern for Nigerians suffering under economic strain.

Also fueling political tensions, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, took aim at several key figures in the ADC, particularly its Interim National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola. At a church service in Abuja, Wike criticised Aregbesola’s tenure as Minister of Interior, accusing him of failing to resolve persistent passport delays. He praised the current minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for significantly improving passport issuance.

Wike further questioned the credibility of the coalition’s leadership, criticising former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi for their records in public office. He described their efforts to “rescue Nigeria” as self-serving and dismissed the coalition’s prospects, asserting that their time in political leadership had yielded little for the country.

As Nigeria approaches the next electoral cycle, the ADC’s coalition efforts are rapidly reshaping the opposition landscape, with both major parties—PDP and APC—watching closely. Whether the ADC can maintain its momentum and translate defections into national influence remains to be seen.