Two aides to President Bola Tinubu have ridiculed the newly unveiled opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing its members as “politically displaced individuals” and likening the alliance to a “structure of criminality.”

Segun Dada, the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, wrote on his official X handle shortly after the coalition was presented at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Tuesday. “Politically displaced individuals,” Dada posted, in a veiled dig at the coalition’s composition and political intent

Also, Bwala Daniel, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, deepened the criticism in a separate post, calling the alliance an “association of wild goose chasers, consisting of internally displaced politicians forming a dead-on-arrival party.” Bwala added that the coalition could be better described using the words once uttered by Peter Obi himself: a “structure of criminality.”

The ADC event brought together high-profile political figures from various parties, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former governors Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, who now serves as interim National Chairman of the ADC.

The coalition also includes politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and disaffected members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), positioning itself as a broad opposition front ahead of the 2027 elections.

Originally scheduled to be held at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, the coalition’s unveiling faced a last-minute setback when the hotel cancelled the booking, citing an “internal compliance matter.” The event was later relocated to the Yar’Adua Centre.

Addressing the gathering, former Senate President David Mark said the coalition was formed to protect Nigeria’s democracy and to prevent a slide toward a one-party state. He insisted that the alliance is driven by national interest, not personal ambition.

However, the immediate backlash from the presidency is a dismissive stance towards the group. Critics, including Tinubu’s aides, argue that many in the coalition have lost political capital, been pushed out of their former parties, or are seeking a path back to relevance.

Despite the high-profile nature of its members, analysts say the coalition will face scrutiny over its ideological unity, staying power, and ability to offer a strong alternative to the APC in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.