Fresh crisis hits ADC as faction denounces coalition backed by Atiku, Aregbesola

There is a fresh political tempest raging at the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where the party’s internal faction renounced the hijack of the party by an opposition coalition of leaders, spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Musa Isa Matara, who identified himself as the factional National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, in a statement on Tuesday, accused the coalition of attempting to “hijack” the party for their 2027 presidential ambition.

According to him, the move by Atiku and other prominent politicians to name former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as interim leaders of the ADC was neither sanctioned by the party’s National Executive Committee nor approved by its members across the country.

“We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully,” the statement read. “The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”

Matara further argued that critical party organs—such as state executives, ward coordinators, and youth and women leaders—were not consulted in the build-up to what he described as a “private coalition arrangement.”

His comments followed a high-level meeting in Abuja on Tuesday where a broad coalition of opposition leaders—including Atiku Abubakar, David Mark, Aminu Tambuwal, Uche Secondus, Sule Lamido, Babangida Aliyu, Sam Egwu, and Peter Obi—adopted the ADC as their political platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

The coalition also named Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports, as its spokesperson.

But Matara said the legitimacy of the coalition’s action remains questionable, citing ongoing legal tussles within the ADC that, according to him, should have been resolved before any merger or coalition could be formed.

“There are unresolved legal disputes hanging over the party since the 2023 elections,” he noted. “Any coalition attempt built on such shaky ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive.”

He also rejected the appointments of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, insisting the party’s constitution was breached in the process.

“Our millions of members were not informed or carried along in this so-called coalition. If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty,” he said.

While the opposition coalition has intensified efforts to form a united front ahead of the 2027 polls, the growing discontent within the ADC signals a rocky road ahead, with the possibility of more legal and structural battles looming in the months to come.