The political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general election is heating up as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark spearhead a new coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), aiming to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. David Mark was announced earlier this week as the interim national chairman of the ADC, signaling the group’s readiness to rally opposition forces under a common platform.
Reacting to the development, loyalists within the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the coalition’s relevance, describing it as “dead on arrival.” According to party insiders, the opposition’s latest move is a recycled attempt lacking cohesion and credible leadership. They argue that the coalition is made up of familiar faces who have failed to present a viable alternative to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Supporters of the opposition, however, maintain that the country is in desperate need of new direction. The ADC-led coalition, they say, represents a fresh opportunity to build a broad-based, inclusive movement capable of addressing insecurity, economic hardship, and what they describe as increasing authoritarianism under the APC government. They also highlight growing discontent among Nigerians as a rallying point for regime change.
Despite internal wrangling in the PDP and defections across major parties, the opposition coalition appears determined to capitalize on widespread dissatisfaction. Yet, questions remain about whether the coalition can maintain unity and translate its ambitions into electoral success. With the 2027 race beginning to take shape, the battle lines are being drawn for what could be one of Nigeria’s most fiercely contested elections since 1999.
