The camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have agreed to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their main political platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Sources close to both leaders confirmed that a meeting was held on Tuesday night where key figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, agreed on using the ADC for their coalition.
“The coalition leaders from the camps of Obi and Atiku met last night in Abuja… After their discussions, they agreed that the ADC should be the main coalition platform,” one source said.
El-Rufai, who confirmed the meeting, told attendees at an event in Katsina that the coalition’s goal is to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
“Yesterday at 8 p.m., there was a very important meeting of the coalition we are building to ensure that President Tinubu returns to Lagos,” El-Rufai said in a video posted online.
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The ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, also confirmed that the party is in discussions with several opposition leaders, including Atiku, Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
“As National Chairman, we set up a committee for this purpose. Our committees are engaging with all patriots interested in rescuing this country. I can confirm that we’re not only speaking to Atiku. We are also engaging Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and many others,” Nwosu said.
Although some members like El-Rufai are currently with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), they agreed to form a broader alliance once ADC is publicly announced as the coalition’s platform.
According to another insider, “They resolved that the coalition efforts within the ADC will ensure a level playing field for all participants, especially Presidential aspirants, regardless of their geopolitical background.”
Meanwhile, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, and Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP) secretary Peter Ameh said they were unaware of the Tuesday meeting but confirmed that discussions to build a coalition are ongoing.
Ibe stated, “His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, has said that all party stakeholders and leaders are part of this coalition, and we have to take his word for it, meaning there are no exceptions. There has been no definitive decision yet.”
However, Ameh said, “Mr. Peter Obi and the rest of our team are committed to the Labour Party. We are here to promote and advocate for the views of the Labour Party.”
CUPP spokesman Mark Adebayo added, “Discussions are ongoing and are at their peak as we speak. Soon, Nigerians will be informed about everything, including the platform. The coalition leaders are focused and determined to work in unison to rescue Nigeria.”
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, who is also part of the coalition, said they have rejected the PDP due to what he called an “incurable virus.”
“In all the meetings I’ve attended, nobody has ever bothered about adopting the PDP… We don’t want to go into a house that we cannot modify,” Lawal said during an appearance on Arise TV.
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the opposition’s plan.
Ajibola Basiru, the APC National Secretary, said President Tinubu is the “grandmaster of coalitions” and will win again in 2027.
“They are not forming any coalition, and if they are, President Tinubu is the grandmaster of coalitions… How can they use a coalition to challenge the grandmaster?” Basiru said.
The opposition coalition is expected to announce key decisions, including leadership changes in ADC, in the coming days.