By Erewunmi Peace

In a surprising political development, the entire leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially stepped down to allow a new opposition coalition to use the party as its platform ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The announcement was made on Monday at a high-level gathering at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where outgoing National Chairman, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, declared the party’s transition into what he described as a “national rescue mission.”

“This is not an abdication but a sacrifice. ADC is offering itself as the vehicle to reclaim Nigeria in 2027,” Nwosu said.

As part of the transition, former Senate President David Mark has been installed as interim National Chairman, while ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola assumes the role of interim National Secretary. The coalition—reportedly backed by key opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi—is being positioned as a “third force” to challenge the ruling APC.

Power Shift or Power Struggle?

While the coalition’s emergence has generated excitement among opposition supporters, the move is already facing internal resistance. A faction of the ADC, led by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Musa Matara, has rejected the leadership changes, describing them as illegal and unrepresentative of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

“We will not allow the party to be hijacked through backdoor arrangements. ADC belongs to the people, not political godfathers,” Matara told journalists in a counter briefing.

This pushback raises questions about the legality of the coalition’s takeover and whether the move could spark a prolonged leadership tussle.

What’s Next?

The new coalition, under the ADC umbrella, is expected to hold a national convention later this year to ratify its leadership and finalize its strategy for 2027. Analysts say the success of the coalition will depend on its ability to build consensus, avoid internal fractures, and present a unified front.

Meanwhile, political observers are watching closely to see whether this alliance of old and new political forces can offer Nigerians a credible alternative in the next presidential race.