From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja and Laide Raheem, Abeokuta 

Opposition leaders across major political parties on Wednesday adopted ADC as a platform for a coalition pushing to unseat President Tinubu in 2027.

Former Senate president, David Mark and a two-term governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, were respectively enthroned as the interim national chairman and secretary of the party.

In his second press conference in two days, Dumebi Kachikwu, presidential candidate of the ADC in 2023 alleged that the coalition is a calculated scheme designed to produce former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Other critics include Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare.

Convener of the Alternative Movement and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Showunmi, also knocked it and described it as “coalition of commotion, confusion and corruption.”

Speaking during the monthly media chat, Wike mocked prominent figures in the coalition and questioned their track records and motives.

He branded leaders of the coalition as a collection of “failed and expired politicians” with nothing new to offer Nigerians.

On former Senate president, David Mark, he remarked: “I heard David Mark say they want to rescue Nigeria. That Nigerians are not happy. But the man was Senate President for 8 years, and Nigerians were happy? There was no single project in Otukpo. Not one. He was flying with a helicopter to Otukpo. Nigerians were not angry then, but they are angry now?”

Wike further noted that Mark, despite his leadership in the PDP, lost local influence as his daughter, running under the APC, won a House of Representatives seat.

Addressing former transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi, he  said: “Amaechi was a minister. He took Chinese loans and made Nigeria so indebted to China. So, Nigerians were happy then?”

He questioned the narrative that Nigerians were content during the tenure of these leaders, only to become dissatisfied once they left office.

On former Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, Wike asked: “I saw Sirika. What happened to Air Nigeria? Nigerians were happy then?”

He referenced the failed Nigeria Air project as evidence of unfulfilled promises.

Wike also took aim at former Attorney General Abubakar Malami: “I read what Malami wrote. It was so shameful. He was AGF. What did he do? What was his contribution to resolving the security challenges?”

He also did not spare former Speaker and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, “Tambuwal was Speaker for four years. What did he do to make Nigerians not be angry? He was governor for eight years. What did he do? What kind of politics are we playing?”

He knocked Bolaji Abdullahi, former Sports Minister and spokesman of the coalition, noting that he moved to the ADC because he fell out with his godfather, Bukola Saraki. “That’s not ideology, that’s desperation.”

Wike asserted that the only party capable of mounting a credible challenge to President Tinubu is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), provided it resolves its internal disputes. He dismissed the ADC coalition as lacking both vision and genuine commitment to Nigeria’s progress.

“When you were in power, Nigerians were happy, but the moment you are no longer in power, Nigerians are no longer happy,” he said, questioning the sincerity of the coalition’s motives.

Commenting on the developments, Keyamo alleged that the coalition was packaged to shortchange Mr. Peter Obi.

He also said the unveiling of the coalition signalled the collapse of the PDP, adding that the coalition now represents a faction of the PDP led by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is in search of a new presidential platform.

“By law, you cannot operate from, or belong to, two or multiple political parties, so it is safe to say that their open declaration for ADC today is a clear abandonment of their previous parties,” Keyamo wrote on X.

“In fact, belonging to two political parties is a ground for disqualification in an election. Therefore, the emergence of ADC as presently constituted marks the formal dismemberment of the PDP, hitherto Nigeria’s strongest opposition Party.

“No matter how you look at it, this is just Atiku’s faction of PDP in desperate search for the 2027 Presidential ticket – nothing more, nothing less. It is better for the APC because it is just a case of totally extracting the germ that was eating the cola nut from within.

“The person whom the old, cunning guards want to take for a ride in all of this is Peter Obi. They want his votes, but don’t want to give him their Presidential ticket, because this is Atiku’s show simpliciter. That is why David Mark is the interim Chairman. Those who know politics know what I am saying. But if you do not give Peter Obi the Presidential ticket, you lose his supporters. It is as simple as that. And how can you make someone who won two regions in the last election (South-East and South-South) a running mate to the person who won only one region (North-East)?

“Therefore, when the dust settles, you will discover that PDP and the Labour Party have lost something, the ADC have only gained something like a caricature, but the APC has lost ABSOLUTELY nothing.”

In his reactions, Dare dismissed comparisons between the new opposition coalition and the 2013 merger that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). He characterised the ADC’s move as a “desperate and self-serving power grab.”

In a statement shared on his verified X account @SundayDareSD, the presidential aide stressed that the coalition, promoted by several opposition politicians as a means to regain national power, lacks foundation in principle or justice and is instead “purely opportunistic.”

“Heads up for Nigerians about ADC — There is no injustice to redress—only avaricious ambition to satisfy,” Dare stated bluntly, asserting that unlike the APC’s emergence in 2013, the current coalition is not driven by national interest.

According to him, the new opposition alliance is being led by “a serial election loser, clutching at what he clearly sees as his last shot at the presidency.”

He pointed out that the coalition’s main advocate does not have the support of crucial political groups, including his own state governor and region, and lacks a solid political infrastructure to rely upon.

“Unlike Tinubu, he enters the coalition alone—without the backing of his state governor, his region, or any meaningful political structure. His ambition is personal, not patriotic. So also that of his many co-travelers,” Dare wrote.

Drawing a clear distinction from the APC’s formation, the presidential media aide reflected on how the 2013 merger was driven by strategic discipline and shared sacrifice. He highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pivotal leadership, noting his commitment to national interest over personal gain.

“In 2013, the merger that birthed the APC was driven by selflessness, national interest, and strategic discipline. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite commanding the loyalty of several sitting governors, chose to wait. He bided his time, played the long game, and focused on building a viable political platform,” he said.

He also cited the unifying role of then-General Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as “a man regarded as a symbol of integrity” and a rallying figure with widespread grassroots support—qualities he says the current coalition significantly lacks.

“No one in this coalition commands that kind of loyalty or trust. Not one of them could genuinely unite a ward, let alone a country,” he argued.

Dare highlighted that the APC merger was driven by legitimate concerns, such as the constitutional denial of power to a marginalized region and a unified desire to end what was widely seen as 16 years of misgovernance under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“The APC coalition emerged to address real grievances: the constitutional denial of power to a region that had been unfairly sidelined and to end the 16 years of ruinous governance by the PDP. It was a coalition grounded in justice and balance,” Dare asserted.

In contrast, he said, the current attempt lacks any ideological or national cause, especially as the presidency is already zoned to a region that, in his words, is “rightfully due.”

“This new coalition? It’s purely opportunistic. The presidency already rests with the region rightfully due. And that’s where it will be till 2031,” he declared.

The opposition contends that the country needs a credible alternative, but Sunday Dare asserts that the distinction between 2013 and now is as clear as day.

“Let’s be clear: this is not 2013—and this is not the APC,” he concluded.

Continuing his outburst, yesterday, Kachikwu, alleged that the faction of the ADC, now led by Mark has hijacked the party to serve a northern political agenda. He said the coalition, under the guise of rescuing Nigeria, was a vehicle for Atiku’s bid for the presidency.

“The coalition was engineered and designed to produce Atiku Abubakar as the standard flag bearer. If not, I challenge them to make a statement that the ADC 2027 presidential ticket is for Southerners.”

According to him, the leaders behind the movement made their intentions clear in a private meeting with him, repeatedly emphasising their desire to “take their power back.”

Speaking at a South West Town hall meeting of the Alternative, yesterday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Showunmi mocked the opposition leaders, labeling the platform as a coalition of commotion, confusion, corruption and mismanagement.

He observed that Nigerians need a reorientation about change of attitude to voting and electoral process, rather than handing over their destiny to the new coalition.

“It’s the right of politicians to do whatever they want to do but it’s the duty of citizens to look at them and say, you have done this kind of trick one time too many.

“That party, the ADC, has been in existence for some time. Some of our people have been there and they even have contested issues around their chairmanship.

“Yet, today, you have left your own party and you have rushed in there. If you go there quietly like decent people so that you don’t carry the same character you had in your party to destroy your party into a new forum, people would have respected you.

“But what are you doing? You’re huffing and puffing as if the party did not have members before. Who will follow such people?

“So, when people ask me what I have to say about the coalition or whatever they call it? I will just say, the merry-go-round of the musical chair they have been doing since 1992 did not work for them and will not work now.”

The PDP Chieftain said Nigerians have up to next year to decide if they’ll re-elect President Bola Tinubu or not.

He, however, ruled out the leaders in the coalition, saying it will be a waste of time if Nigerians entrust them with power.

“In the meantime, we may not know who can fit in, but we know these ones cannot do anything. It will be a waste of everybody’s time even if they try it,” he said.

Showunmi, who was the spokesperson of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council in 2019, however, said that the Alternative was created to deepen Nigerian democracy.

He said the movement was started to tackle issues of voter apathy, votes-buying, division among Nigerians, emphasising the need to present a credible and qualified aspirant as the country’s leaders.