…Weigh Coalition alliance
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar and other influential opposition figures have intensified moves to forge a united front to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Liberty News gathered that Atiku, alongside former Senate President David Mark and other top Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts, held a strategic meeting on Monday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. Among those in attendance were former governors Sule Lamiɗo (Jigawa), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Prince Uche Secondus, Senator Ben Obi, Josephine Anenih, Senator Austin Akobundu, Kola Ologbondiyan, and Abdullahi Maibasira.
Most of these key figures were noticeably absent at the PDP’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, where Samuel Anyanwu was reaffirmed as National Secretary. Their absence underlined growing discontent within the PDP’s ranks and signaled serious efforts to reposition ahead of the next general election.
Presided over by David Mark, the meeting focused on harmonizing strategies for a broader opposition coalition to tackle rising economic hardship, insecurity, and perceived democratic decline under the Tinubu administration.
Insiders revealed that the gathering deliberated whether to remain within the PDP while forming a tactical electoral alliance, or to fully merge into a single coalition party.
Meanwhile, the coalition has now resolved to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform, dropping the earlier plan to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) amid fears that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may not approve it in time.
Talks to adopt the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the platform had earlier collapsed in May, pushing coalition leaders to settle for the ADC – viewed as neutral and nationally registered.
The coalition, which has been in the works since March, includes high-profile figures such as Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai, among others.
Senator David Mark has been nominated as interim chairman of the alliance pending its formal unveiling today, Wednesday, July 3.
Promoters of the coalition hope to rally a broad base of disgruntled stakeholders – disaffected PDP members, former APC chieftains, technocrats, youth groups, and civil society actors – around a vision of internal democracy, transparent candidate selection, and issue-based campaigning.
They are counting on widespread dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, governance, and security to build momentum toward 2027.
A coalition source said, “The ADC ticked all the boxes – national spread, neutrality, and willingness to accommodate diverse interests. The leaders were clear about what they wanted, and the ADC satisfied those expectations”.
