Prominent Nigerian political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, gathered at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday for the official unveiling of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The high-level meeting, which signals a renewed opposition front, was also attended by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai; former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi; Senator Dino Melaye; ex-Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung; publisher and PDP chieftain Dele Momodu; Senators Gabriel Suswam and Ireti Kingibe (Labour Party); former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; and retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, former Chief of Air Staff.
The coalition is aligning under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which has been adopted as the unified political platform for opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and other stakeholders.
David Mark, a three-time Senate President who recently exited the PDP, is set to lead the ADC as interim national chairman. Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been named interim national secretary of the coalition.
Analysts Express Doubts Over Viability
While the unveiling marks a major political development, public affairs analyst Dr. Okey Ikechukwu has expressed strong reservations about the coalition’s viability. Speaking on Arise TV, Ikechukwu criticised the initiative as lacking grassroots coordination and strategic depth.
“You cannot have a coalition of people who have had troubled political histories with each other and expect cohesion,” he said. He questioned the coalition’s ability to translate high-level meetings in Abuja and Lagos into real electoral traction at the state and local levels.
Ikechukwu also cited ideological inconsistencies and personal ambitions within the group. “Nearly all of them are angling for the presidency. Who among them will step down for another?” he asked.
He pointed to ongoing tensions between figures like Nasir El-Rufai and Babachir Lawal over the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket and differing political ambitions of Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and David Mark.
“The coalition seems more focused on removing the APC than articulating a clear policy agenda. What alternative strategies or governance models are they offering Nigerians?” Ikechukwu queried.
He warned that unless the coalition develops a unified vision and grassroots structure, it may struggle to mount a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
