Former Senate President David Mark, has provided insight into the decisyion by the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movements to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political vehicle for the 2027 general elections.
Mark, who now serves as interim national chairman of the ADC, made the announcement during a press briefing held at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday. In a speech titled “Adoption of African Democratic Congress”, he said the coalition’s move marks the beginning of a collective effort to “rescue Nigeria” and defend the nation’s democracy from what he described as the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The coalition, made up of opposition parties, youth movements, civil society organisations, and other pro-democracy groups, formally endorsed the ADC as the platform to present a united front in the race to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
“This marks the beginning of a long and difficult journey to rescue our country and save our hard-won democracy,” Mark said. “We are committed to rebuilding the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.”
Mark, who also announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the APC government as one that has failed on all fronts — security, the economy, and the fight against corruption.
He accused the Tinubu-led administration of attempting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state through the destabilisation of opposition parties and control of democratic institutions.
“Within two years, this administration has hijacked all democratic institutions,” he said. “Their mission is complete state capture and removal of electoral choice by 2027. This coalition exists to stop Nigeria’s descent into a one-party state.”
The former military governor also slammed the National Assembly, alleging that it has been reduced to a “cheerleading” arm of the presidency.
“Never in our history have we seen the legislature so emasculated. The National Assembly has become an appendage of presidential power, rubber-stamping anti-people policies that fuel poverty and insecurity,” he stated.
The coalition also announced former Osun State Governor and former ally of President Tinubu, Rauf Aregbesola, as the interim national secretary of the ADC.
Mark stressed that the coalition was not merely about seeking power but about “restoring hope and dignity to the Nigerian people,” adding that it would continue to build alliances across Nigeria’s diverse political and social groups.
Meanwhile, photos emerged online on Wednesday evening showing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar meeting with Peter Obi at his Abuja residence. The development has triggered speculation that the coalition might consider Obi as its consensus presidential candidate, banking on a southern candidacy to balance power rotation ahead of 2031.
Though the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has criticized the development and questioned the legality of the transition, it is still unclear whether he will seek the ADC ticket again in 2027.
The political atmosphere continues to heat up as opposition forces realign ahead of what is shaping to be a high-stakes general election in 2027.
