Atiku, Jonathan, el-Rufa’i, Amaechi, others in Abuja talks, as party dumps rival ADA
The African Democratic Congress, (ADC), yesterday took decisive steps to cement its role as the main opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, directing all members to resign from other political parties and uniting its presidential hopefuls behind a single candidate.
At a high-stakes caucus meeting in Abuja, the party’s leading aspirants – including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal — agreed to support whoever emerges from the ADC’s presidential primaries. Labour Party (LP) leader, Peter Obi, though absent, sent an apology and pledged his commitment.
Also in attendance were National Chairman, David Mark and National Secretary, Ra’uf Aregbesola. According to the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC leadership would soon release timelines for Osun and Ekiti off-cycle governorship elections, though no deadline was fixed for members to quit their former parties.
Atiku, confirming his presence at the meeting in a post on X, described it as “a meeting of the Nigerian people against the oligarchs who promote poverty and insecurity”. He is widely expected to contest the ADC presidential ticket in 2027.
Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan held a private meeting with ADC National Chairman David Mark in Abuja. While details remain undisclosed, the visit has fueled speculation of Jonathan’s possible return to frontline politics ahead of 2027.
The ADC also announced it was cutting ties with the proposed African Democratic Alliance (ADA), promoted by Ibrahim Shekarau and Umar Ardo, signaling that it has no intention of backing a rival platform.
With its heavyweight coalition intact and its aspirants pledging loyalty to a single flagbearer, the ADC is positioning itself as the clearest opposition challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
