Tensions Explode In ADC Over Secret Coalition Talks With Atiku, Obi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is currently experiencing internal discord following reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may adopt the party as their platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

While some members of the ADC have embraced the proposal and are open to internal restructuring, others have voiced strong opposition to the idea of relinquishing control to incoming political groups.

Founded in 2005, the ADC has historically maintained a low profile on Nigeria’s political scene. However, recent developments have brought it into the spotlight. Internal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have intensified efforts to form new political alliances, with the ADC emerging as a potential unifying platform.

Despite this renewed interest, the party still struggles with limited national presence. In the South-East and South-South regions, Sunday PUNCH was unable to reach several party officials—highlighting the ADC’s weak organisational capacity.

Electoral success for the ADC has also been modest. In the 2019 general elections, the party won a few legislative seats, including three at the National Assembly and two in the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The decision to shift coalition talks to the ADC reportedly followed concerns about President Tinubu’s growing influence within the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which was initially considered for the alliance. SDP’s National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, made it clear that his party was not open to any form of merger or takeover.

With negotiations with the SDP stalled, ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu announced the party’s willingness to lead the anti-Tinubu coalition. Shortly after, the ADC was officially selected as the new platform for the alliance.

Some ADC leaders have described the coalition as a crucial move to dethrone the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. In Ogun State, ADC Chairman Dr. Femi Soluade confirmed that the party’s leadership is already undergoing changes to support the alliance.

“There has been realignment, re-engineering, and, of course, repositioning within the party—from the National Chairman and Secretary to other top officers—to ensure the coalition succeeds,” Soluade stated.