African Democratic Congress (ADC) emerged in 2025 as the platform for a high-powered opposition coalition, raising hopes of a credible alternative to Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party, established in 2005 as Alliance for Democratic Change before it was later renamed African Democratic Congress and registered with INEC in 2007, became a veritable platform for the opposition bigwigs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC-led coalition was introduced to Nigerians in July amidst fanfare by its principal promoters, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023 and former Senate President David Mark.
Also central to the coalition are Peter Obi, Atiku’s running mate in 2019 and Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, alongside former governors and ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola.
The prominent political figures, at their inaugural meeting, hinged their coming together on what they called dissatisfaction with the ruling APC, pledging their readiness to build a united front to challenge the ruling party’s hegemony in the 2027 general elections.
Also, ADC was unveiled as an alternative opposition platform, following the internal crises that had weakened both PDP and Labour Party, creating a major vacuum in opposition politics.
At the inception of the coalition arrangement, the party pledged a strong opposition, people-centered governance and technological solutions to issues like insecurity, improved healthcare and uplift of communities.
Part of its promises was also to be a visionary, disciplined and service-oriented political force in the country.
The coalition equally boasted of having no fewer than five serving governors joining it within the shortest possible time to consolidate its ‘formidable’ status and be in a better stead to give the ruling APC a run for its money.
Expectedly, the coalition’s birth generated a significant momentum and high expectations, with many Nigerians believing it would address the fears being expressed in some quarters of Nigeria’s drift towards a one-party state and restore competitive democracy.
However, months after ADC’s unveiling, the enthusiasm that attended it has noticeably waned, with nothing significant appearing to be happening.
As against the coalition’s promise, no single governor has pitched his tent with ADC, while the clinging of glasses and long speeches at the unveiling of the coalition arrangement is gradually turning into mere grandstanding.
This might have given rise to questions about internal cohesion, strategic direction and leadership clarity within the hitherto promising coalition.
Central to the unease within the party is the unresolved issue of who will fly its presidential flag in 2027, with several leading figures nursing ambitions for the nation’s highest office appearing not ready to shift ground.
While Abubakar, Obi and Amaechi have made their intentions to contest for the party’s presidential ticket public, other prominent members are also said to be warming up for the race.
Meanwhile, the trio of Atiku, Obi and Amaechi are reportedly engaging in consultations, alliance-building and calculations over possible running mates, even though both former governors of Anambra and Rivers have openly dismissed the idea of being Atiku’s running mate.
The development has further fuelled the tension among supporters of both camps, with growing calls for zoning arrangements to manage ambitions and preserve unity within the coalition.
Addressing the issue, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said zoning discussions are not currently on the party’s agenda, stressing that building a credible opposition remains its priority.
Abdullahi maintained that the ADC is focused on establishing a strong national presence, arguing that its emergence has already checked Nigeria’s slide towards one-party dominance.
According to him, Nigerians now have an opposition platform capable of questioning policy misdirection and holding successive governments accountable within a relatively short period.
He added that public expectations are clear: Nigerians want the ADC to endure and to demonstrate readiness to govern through clear policies, detailed plans, and credible leadership.
In spite of the assurances, critics, however, argue that concrete actions from coalition leaders have been limited, with little visible coordination or mass mobilisation since the initial unveiling of the coalition arrangement.
They noted that the excitement that initially greeted the ADC coalition has largely faded and replaced by uncertainty over commitment levels, the sincerity of key actors within the alliance and the party’s relevance in the country political matrix.
Analysts have further argued that as it is now, ADC, arguably the country’s most promising opposition coalition party, stands at a critical juncture, yet challenged by internal rivalry, slow consolidation process and unmet public expectations.
Whether the ADC will be able to translate its beginning, generally seen as lofty, into a cohesive force capable of challenging APC’s dominance, remains the defining question as the race to 2027 gathers momentum.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Yakubu contributed this article to NANFeatures.
