A significant political alliance has emerged in Nigeria, positioning itself against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. This new coalition has seen prominent figures from the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP) defecting to the newly adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC). The opposition movement, spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has officially adopted the ADC as its platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Several political stakeholders have switched their allegiance to the ADC, driven by discomfort with the current administration and a collective ambition to wrest power from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming election. These aggrieved individuals formally joined forces on Wednesday, July 2nd. The coalition's leadership of the ADC was assumed after the party was adopted as the official platform for the 2027 polls. Notably, the ADC coalition includes political appointees who served under the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

Among the public figures who have recently announced their defection to the ADC are:

1. Emeka Ihedioha: The former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, declared his allegiance to the ADC. Addressing members of his 'Rebuild Imo Movement' (RIM) in Owerri, Ihedioha stated that the ADC is now the political platform for him and his supporters. He had previously left the PDP in April 2024 and had remained without a political party since. He was quoted saying, “My party, your party, our party is now ADC. That is the way to go. That is the party for all of us.”

2. Rotimi Amaechi: Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State and ex-minister of transportation, on Wednesday, July 2nd, declared Nigeria to be in a state of collapse. He urged for a complete overhaul to address the nation’s dire challenges, speaking after the unveiling of the ADC interim executive. Amaechi accused the ruling APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conspiring to manipulate upcoming elections. He painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s economic crisis, highlighting alarming inflation and widespread poverty, which have left citizens struggling to afford basic necessities.

3. Abubakar Malami: Former President Muhammadu Buhari's ex-Minister of Justice and one-time Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, announced his resignation from the ruling APC to join the ADC. Malami made this political move after attending the official unveiling of the ADC, the party adopted by the coalition movement led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The coalition aims to unseat President Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 election.

4. Ayomide Salako: Salako, a prominent X (formerly Twitter) user, announced on his page on Thursday, July 3rd, that he had resigned from the Labour Party (LP) to become a card-carrying member of the ADC. He stated, "I have just registered as a card-carrying member of the ADC. No plans of candidacy for now. Just membership. I'll be paying my monthly dues to my local ward in Ogun state - the change we need to effect is at the grassroots. If our presence can't do it, our money should."

The existing ADC leaders have handed over the party's structure to the national opposition movement. This transition allowed Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola to take over as the interim national chairman and secretary of the party, respectively. The Atiku-led coalition had adopted the ADC as its platform to challenge President Tinubu of the APC in the 2027 election. Additionally, the coalition movement appointed the former Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, as the interim publicity secretary of the ADC.

The formation of the ADC marks a strategic political maneuver, drawing parallels to the 2013 amalgamation of opposition parties that led to the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. However, unlike the APC's formation which was heavily driven by political parties, this current coalition is banking more on key individuals to steer its course. Three Northern politicians are particularly significant in this unfolding effort: Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, Senator David Alechenu Mark, and Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai. Atiku and el-Rufai represent different strategic approaches within the coalition.

Atiku has emphasized the need for Nigerian politicians to unite and address the shortcomings of the incumbent administration following the 2023 polls. He believes that a broad-based collaboration of opposition politicians would enable him to perform better than his 2023 outing on the PDP platform. However, his past statements regarding a preference for a northern leader have raised doubts about the coalition's effectiveness.

El-Rufai, on the other hand, introduced a zoning challenge, recalling how 19 state governors in 2022 resolved that power should shift to the South for fairness and equity. He criticized the performance of the Tinubu-led APC administration, stating that if Tinubu has not performed well by 2027, he should be voted out. El-Rufai advocated for the South to present a credible candidate for the remaining four years of its rotational turn, with the North mobilizing support to limit Tinubu to a single term.

The ADC faces several internal hurdles, including the proposal for a single presidential term advocated by Peter Obi and the process of candidate selection. Doubts persist regarding Atiku’s continued presidential ambition given his multiple past attempts, and some view el-Rufai’s stance on power retention in the South as a strategic move for his potential 2031 presidential run. There are also concerns that the coalition might be driven by grievances rather than a clear ideological focus.

Despite these challenges, Senator Mark, as the interim chairman, acknowledged that defeating President Tinubu in 2027 would not be easy but stated that the coalescing of opposition politicians on the ADC platform paves the way for a path to the Presidential Villa. Interim National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola outlined a comprehensive vision for the party, rejecting the notion of a mere power grab. He described ADC as an institution built on values, guided by ideals, and accountable to the people, aiming for ideological depth, unlike many Nigerian political parties. He expressed a desire to mirror the highly credible and organized African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, emphasizing clean politics rooted in democratic values, rule of law, social justice, accountability, transparency, and national development.

A social scientist, Dr. Jonathan Akuns, suggested that Atiku should emulate President Tinubu by supporting a southern candidate rather than seeking another contest, citing Atiku’s long history of presidential bids and frequent party changes as potential hindrances. The effectiveness and longevity of the ADC coalition, whether defined by grievance politics or long-term planning, will unfold as the journey towards the 2027 elections progresses, particularly concerning its candidate selection and overall ideological consistency.