By Vincent Egunyanga, Nathaniel Zaccheaus & David Lawani
A new wave of political realignment is sweeping through Nigeria’s opposition landscape, as top political figures across party lines have come together under a coalition determined to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
However, the coalition’s decision to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its operational platform has sparked a fierce internal crisis.
At the centre of the unfolding storm is the unveiling of former Senate President Senator David Mark as the interim National Chairman of the ADC. This appointment has drawn a sharp rebuke from the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu.
Mark, a prominent statesman and former military governor, did not mince words during his acceptance speech in Abuja, warning that Nigeria is dangerously tilting towards full-blown civilian dictatorship under President Bola Tinubu.
“We are witnessing the deliberate decimation of all opposition voices. This is a coordinated strategy to transform Nigeria into a one-party state by 2027,” Mark warned.
“This coalition is not just a political realignment; it is a rescue mission to save our democracy from collapse.”
Mark blamed the APC-led federal government for failing to address insecurity, spiralling poverty, hunger, and a failing economy. He accused President Tinubu’s administration of being more concerned with entrenching power than serving the people.
“Bandits and terrorists now operate with impunity. There’s no leadership, no accountability. The National Assembly has become a rubber stamp, parroting the whims of the presidency,” he said.
The new coalition, he explained, consists of disgruntled former members of the APC, the Labour Party (LP), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as others united by the urgency to halt Nigeria’s descent into autocracy.
“To every youth whose dreams are deferred, to the families ravaged by violence in Benue, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, and the South, we say—join this rescue mission. A credible alternative is rising,” he declared.
*Malami, Amaechi quit APC, join opposition coalition
The political earthquake continued with the dramatic exit of two former top APC stalwarts: ex-Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
Malami, who officially joined the ADC on July 2, said he was compelled by conscience, not ambition.
“Nigeria is bleeding. Banditry and killings have become routine. The government has abandoned governance for propaganda,” Malami said.
“I am aligning with the ADC because it represents justice, inclusion, and a renewed vision for Nigeria.”
On his part, Amaechi was more damning in his assessment.
He declared Nigeria “destroyed beyond repair” under Tinubu, slamming both the APC and INEC for allegedly colluding to undermine democracy.
“There’s no economy, no security, and no hope. The government is obsessed with rigging elections, and INEC is helping them. This is not leadership,” he said.
He questioned Tinubu’s competence and governance philosophy:
“I never believed Tinubu was fit to lead Nigeria. Now, people are even nostalgic for Buhari. That says a lot,” Amaechi noted.
*Atiku-led coalition adopts ADC
The broad-based opposition coalition, reportedly spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has officially adopted the ADC as its interim political vehicle, pending INEC’s approval of its preferred platform—the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The coalition’s interim leadership appointments were announced as follows: Senator David Mark as National Chairman, Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, and Bolaji Abdullahi as National Spokesperson.
The coalition also includes high-profile figures like Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Bukola Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi, and Abubakar Malami. The group vows to challenge the APC’s dominance and offer Nigerians a united, people-focused alternative in 2027.
“This is the broadest opposition realignment since the 2013 merger that birthed the APC. This time, we are determined to deliver,” a coalition insider said.
*Kachikwu blows hot, rejects Mark’s appointment
But even before the ink dried on Mark’s unveiling, ADC’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Dumebi Kachikwu, launched a fierce resistance, rejecting the new leadership and warning of an internal rebellion.
At a fiery press conference in Abuja, Kachikwu dismissed the coalition’s takeover as illegal and accused former ADC Chairman Ralphs Nwosu of colluding with Atiku’s group to hijack the party.
“You can’t shave a man’s head in his absence. You can’t sneak into a house and declare yourself the landlord,” Kachikwu said, branding the move as fraudulent and politically desperate.
He claimed the leadership changes were engineered using signatures deceptively obtained under an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism—a process he says was manipulated to validate a sham arrangement.
“They told our state chairmen they were signing peace agreements. Instead, those signatures were used to rubber-stamp this illegitimate takeover. It was a political 419,” he alleged.
Kachikwu also questioned Mark’s eligibility, citing ADC’s constitution, which requires any leadership aspirant to have been a member for at least two years.
Flanked by loyal state chairmen from Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno, Kachikwu insisted that ADC was not in crisis but undergoing “internal cleansing.”
“We are not at war; we are reclaiming our party. These political jobbers will soon find out that ADC is not for sale,” he said defiantly.
“Anything signed by Nwosu after August 21, 2022, is null and void. The real ADC will hold a proper convention to elect legitimate leaders. As for the hijackers—bon voyage!”
Despite the internal turbulence, the opposition coalition is pressing ahead with its plan to rally Nigerians and reframe the 2027 general election as a referendum on President Tinubu’s governance.
*Nwosu dismisses crisis claims
Responding to the uproar, Ralphs Nwosu, the embattled former ADC Chairman, dismissed claims of a leadership hijack and insisted that the coalition move is in line with party interests.
“This is about repositioning ADC as a national force. Those opposing it are doing so out of selfish interests,” Nwosu told journalists.
As the political winds shift and alignments deepen, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s opposition space is heating up ahead of 2027, with the ADC now at the centre of an unfolding battle for control, relevance, and national redemption.
