NIGERIA: A significant opposition realignment gained momentum on Tuesday as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held its 8th National Convention in Abuja, with former Senate President Senator David Mark emerging as a central figure in the push to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the 2027 general elections.
Addressing delegates at the Rainbow Events Centre, Senator Mark, who serves as the National Chairman of the David Mark-led faction of the ADC, declared that the party is prepared to “defend democracy” and offer Nigerians a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We must rise beyond personal ambitions and build a coalition that reflects the true will of the people,” Mark said, drawing sustained applause. “Democracy will not die on our watch. The time to act is now. Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of missed opportunities.”
The convention, themed around strengthening the party’s structures and national outlook, saw the ratification of the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) to pilot the party’s affairs for the next four years. Delegates also expelled Nafiu Bala and some members of the rival faction over alleged anti-party activities.
Mark sharply criticised the current administration, citing persistent economic hardship, rising cost of living, and worsening insecurity as clear signs of policy failure. He warned that Nigerians are fast losing confidence in the democratic system and called for urgent political recalibration.
The event attracted prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Other notable attendees and supporters included former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Aminu Tambuwal, signaling a growing convergence of opposition voices under or around the ADC platform.
Sources close to the gathering confirmed that strategic meetings, including a closed-door session at Senator Mark’s residence involving Obi, Amaechi, and Tambuwal, took place on the sidelines as part of efforts to forge a broad-based alliance.
However, the ADC’s momentum faces significant hurdles. The party remains embroiled in a leadership crisis, with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear an accelerated appeal on the tussle on April 22, 2026 — just one week after the convention. A recent court ruling had dismissed a related suit on jurisdictional grounds, but tensions between factions persist.
Despite these legal challenges and reported institutional pressures, including alleged attempts to obstruct the use of the convention venue, party leaders proceeded with the event, describing it as proof that “opposition democracy survives in Nigeria” and that the ADC “cannot be litigated into silence.”
Political analysts say Senator Mark’s stature and experience provide a measure of stability to the emerging coalition. Yet, they caution that unresolved internal divisions, the looming Supreme Court verdict, and the difficulty of producing a single, widely acceptable presidential candidate could undermine the opposition’s chances of mounting a formidable challenge in 2027.
Mark ended his address on a defiant note: “Those who fear a united ADC have come for us through the courts and institutions. We will not cower before tyranny. Nigerians deserve leadership that prioritises welfare, transparency, and national stability.”
As political activities intensify toward the 2027 polls, observers will be watching closely to see whether this show of unity translates into a structured, disciplined alliance capable of unseating the incumbent.
