With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, a political storm is brewing between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The ADC has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of secretly targeting its northern leaders to weaken the growing opposition coalition.
Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, made the allegations on Monday in a strongly worded statement. He said the government was inviting ADC leaders from the North East and North West to secret meetings, not for peace talks but to break up the opposition.
“We have credible intelligence that the aim of this meeting is not for national security or peace building. It is to intimidate, coerce, and, if possible, co-opt these individuals into a fabricated scheme against the opposition coalition. This is not politics. This is sabotage,” Abdullahi said.
He accused some of President Tinubu’s appointees of trying to destabilise the ADC and force Nigeria into a one-party system.
Abdullahi added, “Let it be clear: the coalition movement is an idea whose time has come. This party belongs to every Nigerian who is tired of the lies, the manipulation, and the hardship.”
He urged President Tinubu to call his appointees to order, warning, “We would not allow a handful of desperate men to turn Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship.”
APC Fires Back, Calls ADC Claims Baseless
The APC responded swiftly. Its National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, dismissed Abdullahi’s claims and called him an “impostor.”
He said the current ADC leadership must first be recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before making any public statements.
Basiru said, “We don’t recognise him as speaking for ADC. Let him go and get himself properly registered before we can begin to comment about him.”
Also reacting, APC Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim described Abdullahi as a “habitual liar.”
He reminded Nigerians that Abdullahi once admitted that being the APC spokesperson was hard because “you cannot do the job without lying.”
Ibrahim said, “Is he saying now that he has repented from lying, or is he still lying?”
He insisted that the ADC coalition was weak and disorganised. “They are not a threat to the APC. This is a coalition already in disarray,” Ibrahim added.
Also Read:
- Presidency in panic mood over coalition’s growing influence – ADC
- Senate Prepares for Showdown as Senator Natasha Plans to Resume
Court Case Over ADC Leadership
Amid the heated exchange, three ADC members have gone to court to challenge the legitimacy of the party’s interim leaders, including Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi.
In their suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, they asked the court to declare the appointments unlawful. They argue that the appointments violate the party’s constitution and an existing court ruling.
The ADC had earlier announced it would collapse its old leadership to support the opposition coalition formed on July 1. This coalition includes top political figures like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi.
ADC Expands in Jigawa State
Meanwhile, the ADC is expanding its influence in the North. On Monday, the party launched a new leadership in Jigawa State. Former Deputy Governor Ahmed Gumel was named the new state coordinator.
In his speech, Gumel said, “The coalition aims to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape and provide an alternative to the APC-led government.”
The previous ADC state leaders stepped down to allow the new coalition members to take charge.
“This bold move was made to pave the way for the successful takeover of the party’s leadership,” said Kabiru Hussaini, the outgoing state chairman.
Bashir Adamu, a former House of Representatives member from the PDP, welcomed the new leadership.
“We must work together to build a strong presence in Jigawa and across the nation,” he said.