2027: Atiku, Obi, Mark, Aregbesola, Others Rally Under ADC To Unseat Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and former Senate President David Mark have officially launched a powerful political coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with the express goal of unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.

The coalition, unveiled during a high-profile event at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, was described by its leaders as the beginning of a mass democratic movement to rescue Nigeria from deepening economic woes, rampant insecurity, and institutional collapse.

In a major restructuring of the ADC, David Mark was appointed as the Interim National Chairman, while Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun State Governor and prominent APC figure, emerged as the Interim National Secretary. The reshuffle came after all previous party executives, including the founding chairman Ralph Nwosu, voluntarily stepped down to make way for the new leadership.

“This is not just about contesting elections; it’s about reclaiming our democracy from the grip of autocracy,” David Mark declared in his acceptance speech. He accused the APC-led administration of weakening institutions, politicizing governance, and plunging Nigerians into despair through unchecked corruption and a worsening economy.

In a political bombshell, Rotimi Amaechi announced his resignation from the APC just hours before the ADC coalition was unveiled. Speaking at the event, he said, “People can’t eat. People can’t survive. This is not about power—it’s about saving Nigeria. This must become a people’s movement.”

The event drew a crowd of heavyweights from across Nigeria’s political spectrum, including former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Gabriel Suswam, Celestine Omehia, Liyel Imoke, Abdulfattah Ahmed, Aminu Tambuwal, and Emeka Ihedioha; former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun; LP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed; activist Aisha Yesufu; former IGP Mohammed Abubakar; media mogul Dele Momodu; and Senators Ishaku Abbo, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Ireti Kingibe. According to its promoters, the coalition seeks to unify progressive forces under one political umbrella to offer Nigerians a genuine alternative in 2027.

However, the coalition was not without its critics. Dumebi Kachikwu, ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, rejected the new alliance, calling it “a gathering of failed political veterans” and accusing its leaders of attempting to hijack the party for personal ambition. “You cannot set fire to a house for decades and now claim to be the fire brigade,” Kachikwu said, describing the new ADC leadership as “selfish old men shopping for a platform.”

A faction of the party under the banner of Concerned Stakeholders also opposed Aregbesola’s appointment, citing lack of legitimacy and due process. In response, outgoing chairman Ralph Nwosu declared Kachikwu “persona non grata” and insisted that the new leadership reflects the will of the party’s majority.

The development has sent shockwaves through the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which has struggled with internal strife since losing the 2023 presidential election. Despite Acting PDP Chairman Umar Damagum’s reaffirmation of party unity, several prominent members, including Atiku Abubakar and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, have thrown their weight behind the ADC coalition. “We are drawing the line. Any PDP member undermining our platform will face disciplinary action,” Damagum warned during a press briefing.

Still, some PDP insiders believe the new coalition offers a more viable path to challenge APC dominance and reposition the country.

The APC, on the other hand, dismissed the opposition alliance as a political stunt. Bala Ibrahim, Director of Publicity for the APC, described the coalition as “a desperate alliance of yesterday’s men” and claimed that Nigerians would not be deceived again. “They are the same old actors who mismanaged Nigeria. Their time is up,” he said, adding that President Tinubu remains focused on national recovery and meaningful reforms.

While the ADC coalition represents one of the boldest opposition realignments in Nigeria’s recent political history, analysts caution that sustaining unity across different ideologies and personal interests may be the real challenge. Whether this coalition can transform into a truly formidable force or collapses under the weight of its contradictions remains to be seen.