Abuja, Nigeria — A political storm is brewing ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) drawing sharp criticism from top figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
The coalition, unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday, is backed by several prominent politicians, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Though not all have formally defected to the ADC, their endorsement signals a bold move to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, the unveiling has sparked heated reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape.
Wike Blasts Coalition as “Recycled Failures”
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dismissed the ADC coalition, calling its leaders opportunists who failed Nigerians during their time in power.
“I heard David Mark say Nigerians are angry. He was Senate President for eight years. What changed?” Wike asked. “When Rotimi Amaechi was minister for eight years, Nigerians weren’t angry then? Now they want to rescue Nigeria?”
Wike argued that only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—if properly restructured—stands a real chance of challenging President Tinubu, while branding the ADC-led coalition as unserious.
ADC Fires Back: Wike is ‘Jittery’
In a scathing response, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused Wike of panicking over the rising influence of the coalition.
“Minister Wike descended to that level because of his mortal fear of the threat the coalition poses to the government he serves,” Abdullahi said.
He claimed Wike had failed FCT residents, citing unpaid salaries of primary school teachers and an increasing number of “white elephant” projects, insisting that the coalition represents the voice of suffering Nigerians.
Labour Party Threatens Peter Obi with Expulsion
The Labour Party’s internal crisis deepened as its Julius Abure-led faction issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Peter Obi to resign over his involvement with the ADC.
“We are not part of the coalition,” LP spokesman Obiora Ifoh said. “Desperate politicians cannot be the architects of a new Nigeria.”
However, Obi’s faction within the Labour Party, led by Nenadi Usman, dismissed the threat, labeling the ultimatum as illegal and asserting that Obi’s actions were approved by the party’s legitimate leadership.
APC, Presidency Dismiss Coalition as ‘Desperate Alliance’
The APC was quick to ridicule the coalition, describing it as “a gathering of deceivers and vendetta merchants.”
Party spokesman Felix Morka slammed the ADC’s unveiling, calling it “a whimper” and claiming the group was driven by selfish ambition rather than national interest.
Presidential aides also weighed in. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “This is not 2013. This is not the APC. The ADC-led coalition is opportunistic and lacks the structure or vision needed for national leadership.”
Daniel Bwala, another presidential aide and former PDP chieftain, referred to the coalition as “dead on arrival” and “a structure of criminality.”
Amaechi Calls for Revolution, Blames Citizens for Inaction
Former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi also voiced frustration, saying Nigerians must take their fate into their own hands.
“The only way to stop Tinubu in 2027 is to run an election of Nigerians versus the bandits,” he said, warning that the elite would not relinquish power unless forced by the people.
Citing historical examples from Bangladesh and Peru, Amaechi criticized Nigeria’s “docile society” and challenged the populace to rise against poor leadership.
PDP Walks Tightrope Amid Mixed Signals
While key PDP figures like Atiku and David Mark are involved in the coalition, the party’s National Working Committee has distanced itself from the movement.
“The PDP has not taken any official position on the issue of coalition,” the party’s spokesperson Debo Ologunagba clarified. “Our focus remains the successful organization of our upcoming national convention.”
This position contradicts the public actions of high-ranking PDP members, further fueling internal divisions.
Kachikwu Alleges Coalition Engineered to Install Atiku
Dumebi Kachikwu, ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, launched a blistering attack on the new leadership led by David Mark, claiming the coalition was a ploy to install Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate.
“I asked them one question—will the South produce the flag bearer? They said, ‘We are taking our power back.’ That ended the conversation for me,” Kachikwu told journalists.
He threatened legal action and urged the coalition to publicly commit to zoning the ticket to the South if their intentions were sincere.
Coalition Unveils ‘Contract with Nigerians’ Blueprint Soon
Despite the storm of criticism, former ADC Chairman Ralph Nwosu announced that the coalition would unveil its blueprint—dubbed Contract with Nigerians—in the coming weeks.
“This is the real coalition. We’ve spent 18 months building this movement. The time for a true national rebirth is now,” Nwosu said.
Observers Caution Against ‘Recycled Politicians’
PDP chieftain Segun Showunmi and LP spokesperson Abayomi Arabambi also criticized the coalition as a platform for failed politicians to rebrand themselves.
“They destroyed their old parties and now come to ADC to puff around like saviors,” Showunmi said. “It’s a coalition of failures.”
With just two years to Nigeria’s 2027 elections, the political battlefield is heating up. As alliances form and fracture, questions remain about whether the opposition can mount a united and credible challenge to President Tinubu—or if the coalition will collapse under the weight of its contradictions.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: the road to 2027 will be fiercely contested.
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