(JUST IN) 2027 Starts Now: United Opposition Picks ADC to Take on Tinubu, Names Interim Leaders

A powerful coalition of opposition figures has officially adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their unified platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. The announcement came from an ongoing high-level meeting that has drawn together some of the country’s most prominent political leaders from across party lines.

The coalition, which includes former presidential candidates, ex-governors, and party chieftains, declared former Senate President David Mark as the ADC’s protem national chairman. Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was named protem national secretary—signaling the seriousness and organizational intent behind the new alliance.

Among the political heavyweights present at the meeting were former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers Governor and Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, and ex-APC National Chairman John Oyegun. Others in the room included former Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke, former Speaker of the House Aminu Tambuwal, and influential political strategist Kashim Imam. Sources close to the talks confirmed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also backing the move.

The gathering is being described as the most significant cross-party coalition since 2015—one united not just by opposition to Tinubu, but by a shared belief that the current administration has failed to deliver on its promises. Leaders of the coalition cited worsening economic hardship, rising insecurity, and what they called “renewed hardship” instead of Tinubu’s promised “renewed hope” as justification for their move.

“This is not just a political alliance—it’s a rescue mission,” a source at the meeting told reporters. “Nigeria needs credible, competent leadership, and this coalition is determined to provide it.”

The road to unity, however, has not been without friction. Earlier in 2025, after defecting from the APC, El-Rufai had endorsed the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a possible rallying point for the opposition. But internal resistance and fears of infiltration by Tinubu loyalists fractured those plans. The SDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, publicly distanced the party from the coalition, raising doubts about its viability as a neutral ground.

In June, the coalition attempted to register a new political party—the All Democratic Alliance (ADA)—submitting a constitution, manifesto, and a maize-themed logo to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, multiple applications using the ADA acronym, including one for the “Advanced Democratic Alliance,” raised red flags and risked delays. El-Rufai himself expressed skepticism that INEC, under its current leadership, would approve the registration, hinting at possible political interference.

Faced with uncertainty and a ticking clock, the opposition leaders turned to the ADC—an already registered national party with the structure and legal standing to support an electoral campaign. The decision is seen as a pragmatic move to bypass bureaucratic hurdles and begin nationwide mobilization ahead of 2027.

With interim leadership now in place and a swelling base of cross-party support, the coalition plans to field a single, formidable candidate to take on President Tinubu and the ruling APC. Talks are ongoing over who that candidate will be, but insiders say negotiations are focused on unity, not ego.

As the 2027 race unofficially kicks off, the message from the opposition alliance is clear: the countdown has begun—and they’re coming for the presidency.