The Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has stated that the party has no preferred presidential aspirant amid reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi are frontrunners for the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket.
In a statement released by his media team in Abuja, Mark emphasised that all members are equal stakeholders and dismissed accusations by the ADC’s 2023 candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, that the interim leadership was biased in favour of Atiku. Mark assured Nigerians that the party would remain transparent, urging members to unite and show Nigerians that the ADC is “a different party ready to properly run democracy.”
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused opponents of conspiring to oust the President. In a post on X, Onanuga described Tinubu’s government as the most transformative in Nigeria’s history and warned that “haters of Nigeria’s progress” were plotting against his reforms.
The growing opposition momentum has triggered a wave of defections to the ADC across Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Ondo, and other states. In Borno, the ADC gained top PDP and APC stalwarts, including ex-PDP senatorial and governorship candidates. Defectors cited APC’s policy failures under Tinubu and the PDP’s compromised leadership as reasons for switching allegiance.
In Gombe, former APC State Organising Secretary Abdullahi Ataka joined the ADC, citing fresh energy and inclusiveness. ADC’s state chairman, Auwal Barde, described the coalition as a credible alternative for Nigerians frustrated by the status quo.
In Jigawa, the ADC dissolved its state executive and installed a new exco led by former Deputy Governor Ahmed Gumel. Former Governor Sule Lamido also joined the coalition.
In Ondo, prominent PDP leaders, including Eyitayo Jegede, Agboola Ajayi, and Nicholas Tofowomo, were reportedly part of the coalition. However, PDP leaders, including South West Vice Chairman Kamorudeen Ajisafe, said they were yet to verify these resignations and insisted the PDP remains strong in the region. In the FCT, PDP leaders dismissed claims of defection and pledged to win the 2026 Area Council polls.
Reacting to the coalition, the APC accused the ADC of chasing shadows and spreading falsehoods. APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka dismissed allegations that the ruling party was trying to destabilise the ADC, describing the coalition as “a gathering of failed politicians driven by excessive ambition.”
The Federal Government also reaffirmed that President Tinubu remains focused on his reform agenda. Minister of Information Mohammed Idris stated that the administration will not be distracted by politicking, citing progress on economic recovery, inflation control, and food security.
Meanwhile, the ADC has claimed the APC is sponsoring a lawsuit to challenge its interim leadership using names of individuals not registered as party members. The ADC’s legal team announced that 97 lawyers are ready to defend the party in court.
Despite mounting political tension, Mark urged ADC members to bond together to rebuild the party before talking about individual ambitions, while the FG insisted that Tinubu remains undistracted in delivering his Renewed Hope Agenda.
ADEOLA KUNLE
