By Wealth Oghenemaro
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s main opposition coalition has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its new political vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
As part of this strategic shift, the coalition has named former Senate President David Mark as the interim national chairman of the ADC, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will serve as the party’s interim national secretary.
The announcement was confirmed via social media by several key opposition figures including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Dele Momodu, and Kola Ologbondiyan, a former national publicity secretary of the PDP. In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ologbondiyan stated,
“African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been adopted as the political party for the coalition. The party has elected Sen. David Mark as the interim National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the interim National Secretary.”
Aregbesola, reacting to his appointment, said he accepted the role out of a strong desire to help reshape Nigeria’s political culture, which he described as lacking ideological clarity. In a heartfelt statement posted on his verified Facebook page, he wrote:
“It is with deep humility, a profound sense of duty, and unwavering hope for our people, nation, race and party that I accept the appointment as the National Secretary of our great party.”
“Most existing political parties in Nigeria are hollow structures that merge and split not based on policy or principle, but on the pursuit of power and personal interests,” Aregbesola said.
“I thank every committed member of this party and those who still believe that politics can be a force for good; people who believe that parties form government and must control it; those who believe in the supremacy of the party in a democracy… [and] that parties are not merely machines for winning elections but institutions for mobilizing, organizing, energizing, educating, empowering and encouraging the people towards their emancipation and development.”
This political realignment follows a high-level meeting of prominent opposition leaders—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and David Mark—who jointly called on Nigerians to unite behind a broad-based coalition aimed at ending the APC’s rule in 2027.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the leaders urged Nigerians and PDP members to work together under a shared platform committed to national unity, democratic governance, economic recovery, security, and a firm stand against corruption. They also stressed the need for strategic planning that reflects local and national realities.
Meanwhile, David Mark has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party he helped found. In a letter dated June 27 and addressed to his PDP Ward Chairman in Otukpo, Benue State, Mark cited deepening internal divisions, unresolved leadership crises, and irreconcilable differences as reasons for his exit.
“Over the years, I have remained firm and deeply committed to the ideals of the PDP,” he wrote. “Even when nearly all stakeholders departed the party following our loss in the 2015 presidential election, I pledged to remain the last man standing.”
“I have worked steadfastly to rebuild, reconcile, and reposition the party. Efforts which, without sounding immodest, helped restore the PDP to national relevance and made it once again a party of choice for many Nigerians.”
Mark’s departure and Aregbesola’s ideological rebirth within the ADC mark a defining moment for Nigeria’s opposition movement, as it prepares to mount a more united and structured challenge to the APC in the next electoral cycle.
