Raphael Kanu
Amid rising speculations over preferred presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has dismissed claims of favouritism towards former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or ex-Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.
In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja by his media team, Mark reaffirmed that the ADC had not endorsed any aspirant, stressing that the new coalition’s priority was to offer Nigerians a credible and inclusive alternative.
“The ADC has no preferred or favourite presidential aspirant,” Mark said. “We are focused on putting forward a platform that is attractive and acceptable to the majority of Nigerians. If we don’t rise up now, this ship called Nigeria will sink with all of us.”
The clarification followed accusations from the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, who alleged that the interim leadership was biased in favour of Atiku. Mark responded by urging unity and transparency, calling on all members to actively shape the party’s democratic future.
“I don’t own this party more than any of our members,” he said. “All Nigerians must come together and take ownership of the ADC.”
As the 2027 race gathers steam, the ADC has witnessed a massive wave of defections from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly in Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, and Ondo states.
In Borno, the home state of Vice President Kashim Shettima, the ADC welcomed prominent figures including PDP’s 2023 senatorial candidate Mohammed Kumalia, deputy governorship candidate Saleh Kida, former national treasurer Ali Wurge, and several House of Representatives candidates. Sheriff Banki, a youth mobiliser and former APC stalwart, said the decision to defect stemmed from widespread disillusionment with the APC-led federal government. “The Renewed Hope Agenda has only brought hardship,” Banki stated. “People can no longer sleep with both eyes closed, and economic realities are biting harder than ever.”
In Gombe, former APC State Organising Secretary Abdullahi Ataka declared his support for the ADC at an expanded caucus meeting, citing widespread consultation and dissatisfaction with the current system. “We see in the ADC a sense of direction and openness that is missing in the existing political structures,” Ataka said. “This is the movement the people have been waiting for.”
State chairman Auwal Barde described the coalition as a credible alternative rooted in inclusivity and accountability. “This is not just a merger of political interests. It’s a genuine movement to rescue Gombe and Nigeria,” he said. “We’re calling on disillusioned citizens—especially youth and professionals—to join the platform of real transformation.”
In Jigawa State, the ADC dissolved its executive council and inaugurated a new leadership under former deputy governor Ahmed Gumel. His emergence followed the defection of former Governor Sule Lamido, a prominent PDP figure. “The coalition aims to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape and offer an alternative to the APC,” Gumel stated during his inauguration in Dutse.
In Ondo State, former PDP House of Reps member Prof. Bode Ayorinde claimed the ADC had effectively become the dominant party, pointing to the involvement of 2020 and 2024 PDP governorship candidates Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi. “We started with 25 people; today we are over 300,” Ayorinde said. “The PDP structures have collapsed into the ADC in some local governments already. What we are witnessing is a state-wide and national shift.”
Kennedy Peretei, a former PDP spokesperson in the state, supported Ayorinde’s claims, noting that the APC’s discomfort was evident. “There were fears that Nigeria was heading toward a one-party state, but that narrative is collapsing. The APC is now attacking personalities because they feel the heat,” he said.
Despite the growing wave, the PDP has continued to push back. The party’s National Vice Chairman (South-West), Kamorudeen Ajisafe, said there was no official confirmation of the reported defections of Jegede and Ajayi. “I am yet to confirm the said exits of Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi. Have you seen their resignation letters online? They have not resigned to the best of my knowledge. It is still under the realm of hearsay,” Ajisafe said. He noted that the South West Zonal Caucus meeting scheduled for Friday was aimed at strengthening the PDP’s internal confidence and cohesion. “The ADC is gaining momentum because it’s a new movement, but not at the detriment of the PDP in the South West. You might have pockets of defections here and there, but PDP remains very strong,” he insisted.
Similarly, Gombe State PDP spokesman Abdulkadir Dukku said most defectors had not resigned formally and would not be regarded as PDP representatives. “Politics is a matter of choice. But there are rules. If you didn’t tender your resignation, you’re not acting in any official PDP capacity,” he said.
In Abuja, the PDP expressed confidence ahead of the February 2026 Area Council elections. Represented by North Central Vice Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, acting National Chairman Umar Damagum maintained that the party’s presence in the Federal Capital Territory remained unshaken. “There is nothing like a coalition in the FCT. Our structure is intact. The FCT is the home of the PDP,” he said.
He warned party executives against engaging in anti-party activities. “If you’re not ready to work for the party, kindly step aside so the vacuum can be filled immediately,” Damagum cautioned, adding that the party would enforce discipline and reward loyalty.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government insisted President Bola Tinubu remained undistracted by political developments and focused on reforms and economic transformation. His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post later deleted from X, accused political opponents of plotting to derail the administration. He cited a 2022 statement by the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, warning Nigerians about expecting easy prosperity from reform-driven leadership. “If anybody tells you it would be easy, don’t vote for him,” Onanuga quoted.
As 2027 draws closer, Nigeria’s political landscape appears set for a major realignment. The ADC’s growing influence and the reaction from both ruling and opposition parties suggest the battle for the nation’s soul is just beginning.