The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reaffirmed its commitment to presenting a formidable alternative to Nigeria’s dominant political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that its growing coalition is designed to “rescue the country from decline.”
Mr. Balaji Abdullahi, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, made this known in an interview featured on Arise News, where he outlined the party’s vision, clarified public misconceptions, and responded to criticisms following the recent announcement of a new political coalition.
Addressing confusion over the involvement of prominent politicians like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, Abdullahi clarified that while these figures have been widely mentioned in the media, none have been formally endorsed as flagbearers. “We have not, as a party or coalition, announced any candidate,” he said. “What has been made public is the formation of the coalition. All other names are speculations.”
He stressed that the ADC-led coalition is open to all credible Nigerians who are willing to put the country first. “This is an open and transparent platform. It is open to anyone who wants to come on board to rescue Nigeria from the state we are in today,” he said, noting that many stakeholders have already shown interest in joining the movement.
In response to claims that the coalition is merely a rebranding of the defunct Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Abdullahi disagreed, stating that unlike CUPP—which was formed hastily to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019—the current coalition has been built deliberately and organically over time. “We have been at this since 2021. We didn’t just show up and say we want to remove President Tinubu,” he explained.
He further emphasized that the coalition is not a mere alliance of convenience. “We are not an amalgamation of political parties. We are building a new political movement, and we believe Nigerians will resonate with us because they are tired of the old order,” he said.
Abdullahi also countered assertions that the coalition lacks structure. He explained that as a registered political party with presence in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the ADC has both the grassroots reach and electoral history necessary to serve as a credible platform for the coalition. “We have members in the National Assembly, governors who have emerged from our platform in the past, and an administrative structure ready to deliver,” he said.
On the timing of the coalition’s unveiling, which some critics labeled as premature, Abdullahi argued that early mobilization is crucial. “We believe the earlier we come out, the better. We don’t want to start rushing in 2026 or 2027. We want to go around the country now and present this idea to Nigerians.”
He concluded with a message to the Nigerian public, particularly the youth and disillusioned electorate: “This is a call to action. If you are tired of what we’ve always had, come and be part of this new movement. There’s no big man here—just Nigerians ready to make a difference.”
What you should know
Balaji Abdullahi, the interim spokesperson of the ADC, used his Arise News appearance to clarify that the new coalition is not just a rehash of past alliances but a genuine, grassroots movement to challenge Nigeria’s political status quo.
He emphasized that no candidate has been endorsed yet and encouraged wide public participation.
