The opposition coalition has formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At a high-level meeting held Tuesday in Abuja, the coalition announced the appointment of David Mark, former Senate President, as interim national chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun State governor, as interim national secretary.
Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports, was named the coalition’s spokesperson.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, the ADC is expected to officially confirm these appointments during another meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
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In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kola Ologbondiyan, a former PDP publicity secretary and aide to Mark, confirmed the development:
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been adopted as the political party for the coalition. The party has elected Sen. David Mark as the Interim National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the Interim National Secretary.”
Aregbesola: ‘We Must Be Different’
In his acceptance speech, Aregbesola emphasized the need for ideological clarity and a people-centered approach in Nigerian politics.
“Our political landscape is plagued by parties without ideology. They merge and split—not over principles or policies, but over power and personality,” he said.
“We must not be that kind of party. We must be a party that builds schools, ensures security, creates jobs, and prioritizes governance beyond elections.”
He urged party members and the public to hold him accountable:
“This won’t be easy. It will require sacrifice. But it’s possible. Challenge me when I stray. Support me with action, not just words. Together, we can rebuild our party and restore politics as a service to the people.”
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Background
Discussions around forming a united opposition front began gaining traction earlier this year. Leading figures in the coalition include Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President; Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate; Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation; and Nasir el-Rufai, ex-Governor of Kaduna State.
In May, TheCable reported that opposition leaders had reached a consensus to use the ADC as their joint platform for the 2027 elections.
Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder, expressed confidence in the new leadership, saying David Mark has the experience and credibility needed to steer the coalition in the right direction.
