The coalition of opposition parties will on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, formally adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The move to formally adopt the proposed political vehicle, initially called the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), was mooted by members of the coalition amid fears that INEC may not fast-track its registration to meet electoral deadlines. The coalition was formally unveiled on March 20 and includes key political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
Former Senate President David Mark may have been endorsed as the interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, succeeding founder Okey Ralph Nwosu. If confirmed, Mark will oversee the party during its transitional phase and the convention set for 2026, which will elect a new National Working Committee.
The majority of coalition figures agreed to join the ADC after talks with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) collapsed. It was reported that the ADC met all the coalition’s requirements and satisfied the expectations of top political figures.
According to an insider who does not want to be named,” the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) was first pushed to distract the ruling party from its main purpose. Among other criterias used to shop for ADC is the alphabetical arrangement, a name was picked that will come first on the ballot paper. A formal annoucement will be done on Wednesday.”
However, the move suffered a slight setback after some coalition figures pushed back, claiming that the registration of the new party was still under consideration. By June, the coalition formally approached INEC to register it as a new political entity.
INEC has maintained a firm stance on party registration requirements. The electoral body told the coalition of political groups seeking to register a new party ahead of the 2027 general elections that no amount of public pressure or blackmail would override the need for strict compliance with constitutional and regulatory requirements.
The electoral body questioned the coalition’s compliance with key legal and procedural requirements, warning that party registration was not merely a political declaration but a constitutional process governed by strict guidelines.
INEC also denied reports circulating online claiming the registration of two new political parties – the “Independent Democrats” and the “Peoples Democratic Movement.”
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
