Politicians from various opposition parties gathered on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja for a media conference organised to unveil the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the vehicle for an opposition coalition.
Those present include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; former Senate President David Mark, who is serving as Interim National Chairman of the ADC; and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, now the interim National Secretary of the ADC.
Others in attendance were former Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal; Akeem Baba-Ahmed; Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung; and former APC National Chairman, Odigie Oyegun.
Additional attendees include former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Dino Melaye; Dele Momodu; Enyinnaya Abaribe; Gabriel Suswam; Ireti Kingibe; Elisha Abbo; Uche Secondus; Tunde Ogbeha; Victor Umeh; Lauretta Onochie; Liyel Imoke; and Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.
Interim ADC National Chairman, Mark, said Nigeria’s opposition coalition would prevent the country from sliding into a one-party state.
Speaking at the event, Mark described the coalition as a united front of Nigeria’s diverse opposition groups, civil society, and youth organisations, determined to rescue the country’s democracy from what he called “creeping authoritarianism.”
“This coalition goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy,” Mark said.
He warned that since the current administration assumed office two years ago, it had “hijacked all democratic institutions” and was pushing Nigeria towards “total civilian dictatorship.”
“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption — a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications,” he said.
Mark accused the federal government of destabilising opposition parties in pursuit of what he termed “total state capture,” leaving the electorate without viable alternatives in the 2027 elections. He criticised the government’s prioritisation of politicking over governance, noting that many Nigerians were “wallowing in hunger and poverty.”
He also decried the state of insecurity across the country and alleged that the National Assembly had become “a mere appendage of presidential authority,” unable to check what he called unconstitutional policies.
“This is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people. This coalition is for all Nigerians who share in our belief that we have a patriotic duty to save our country,” he said.
Former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, also announced his resignation along with that of the party’s executives, saying the ADC had chosen to dissolve its current structure in favour of a united leadership under Mark.
“We don’t have any doubt in the man. We all have decided to resign,” Nwosu said. “Nigerians are yearning for a coalition because they want everyone to come together.”
The gathering marked one of the strongest attempts yet by Nigeria’s opposition figures to present a united political front since the 2023 elections, with conversations already steering towards a collaborative approach to reclaim power in 2027.
The planned unveiling of the ADC coalition initially suffered a setback following a last-minute cancellation by the original event venue.
The event was scheduled to be held at the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja. However, just hours before the programme, organisers were informed that the hotel would no longer host the event.
According to a screenshot of the cancellation notice shared on Instagram by Momodu, the hotel’s management said the cancellation was due to an “internal compliance matter.”
Subsequently, the coalition secured an alternative venue, the Yar’Adua Centre, for the event.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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