The embattled National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, former Senate President David Mark, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC National Secretary and other party leaders have declared that there would be no easy victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the party’s national convention themed, ‘So That Nigeria May Work,’ held on Tuesday in Abuja, the ADC leaders strongly criticised the Tinubu-led administration over the worsening insecurity and economic hardship in the country, insisting that Nigerians were facing unprecedented levels of suffering.
Other ADC leaders, including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Governors, Peter Obi (Anambra) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), described the security situation as deteriorating, alleging that poverty has more than doubled under the present administration.
However, the faction of the ADC led by Nafiu Bala dismissed the Abuja convention, stating that their own bloc would hold a separate convention after the Supreme Court’s judgment.
On April 1, INEC announced the delisting of key ADC figures, including Mark and Aregbesola, from its official register. The commission explained that the action was taken in compliance with a court order directing it to preserve the status quo pending the final determination of the case at the trial court.
The party has faced a prolonged leadership crisis since 2025, when Mark’s group formed a new National Working Committee, which was contested by other factions within the ADC.
The dispute stemmed from disagreements over the tenure of former chairman Ralph Nwosu, which ended in August 2022. While Nwosu was said to have endorsed a 2025 transition plan, his deputy, Nafiu Gombe, insisted that he should assume the position of acting chairman after Nwosu’s exit.
The disagreement later escalated into factional struggles for control of the party, resulting in multiple legal battles at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and raising concerns about the ADC’s preparedness for the 2027 elections.
In response, Mark called for Amupitan’s resignation on April 2 and maintained that the party would proceed with its scheduled activities.
In a related development, a faction backed by the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, announced a caretaker committee during a National Executive Committee meeting convened by some state chairmen of the party.
As a result, the party is now split into three factions: one led by Mark representing the coalition bloc, another led by Gombe, and a NEC-backed group aligned with Kachikwu and headed by Kingsley Ogga, the Kogi State ADC chairman.
Despite these developments, Mark, Aregbesola and others were voted as members of ADC National Working Committee by over 3,000 delegates at the Abuja convention on Tuesday.
The convention also affirmed the National Working Committee led by Mark and adopted the party’s revised constitution and manifesto.
In his remarks, Mark, who declared that the ADC cannot be wished away or litigated into silence, added that the party belongs to the Nigerian people, and that Nigerians have shown their support by turning out in large numbers today.
He stated, “I say to those who orchestrated these obstacles: you have not weakened us; you have welded us together. Every attempt to suppress this party has only deepened the resolve of our members, widened our coalition, and reminded Nigerians why a strong opposition is not optional; it is essential to democracy’s survival.
Across Nigeria, there is a growing awareness by a generation that desires a different country, a country that nurtures their talents and supports their ambitions.
“This generation is asking tough questions of leadership and those who seek to lead. We are greatly delighted to see that under the harsh light of this scrutiny, the African Democratic Congress is emerging as a credible alternative, not necessarily because of who we are, but because our vision and ambition align with their own.
‘’The reason we are here, the genuine recommitment to putting the people first, is the very reason that they continue to believe, despite the daunting challenges they face today, that Nigeria, this great country, will rediscover itself.
“We in the African Democratic Congress recognise this moment as a moment of great opportunity, as well as a moment of great responsibility. Our objective is not merely political success or a quest for power. We see it as a duty to ourselves and to posterity to demonstrate to all Nigerians that something good can come out of politics, and that democracy can actually deliver a better life than they seek. This is the fundamental goal of our party.’’
The former Senate President stated that in the ADC, the constitution will be supreme, adding that every member, regardless of position, will be accountable to the rules and values that define the party.
He continued, “No member of this party, no matter how highly placed, will be bigger than the party, and no member, no matter how lowly placed, will be ignored. This is my personal commitment to you all.
“In the ADC, we shall return politics to its true purpose: to improve the lives of the people. This is the central ideology of our party: to make life better for the people. The resources of Nigeria will be deployed in the service of the majority of Nigerians. We will invest in our people, make them more productive and more competitive. We will protect people and provide the environment for them to thrive.”
On his part, Aregbesola said President Tinubu ought to resign following the deteriorating insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria.
“People who deliberately split the People’s Democratic Party are today being falsely roped in as political strategists. Since when has criminality become a strategy? The ADC does not, and we never owe its existence to any individual or group, including an electoral body masquerading as a neutral umpire with its leadership in the attire of political partisanship.’’
Aregbesola expressed concern that transportation costs have risen so sharply that it is now impractical for some workers to commute to work.
“Ordinarily, having made such a promise and fared woefully, an honest president should simply step down and not seek re-election. Rather, what we are witnessing is the most desperate attempt by a candidate in Nigerian electoral history to retain power at all costs, even if it means bringing down the entire democratic system. We have the duty to stop scammers from retaining power,’’ the ex-Tinubu ally railed.
He also cautioned that there would be no automatic or ceremonial ascension to power in the Presidential Villa in 2027.
“There will be no coronation in 2027. There will be no Kabiyesi in the Presidential Villa come 2027,” describing the president’s style of governance as autocratic, stating that under Tinubu, being in the opposition has effectively been treated as an offence.
Former Vice President Atiku declared that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, would not escape accountability over allegations of being used to undermine democracy in Nigeria.
“I remember when the APC was being formed, the entire political leadership in this country came to my house. They said, ‘If you don’t come into the APC, this is not going to be possible.’ They literally compelled me to join the APC. Only for us to enter the APC, our economy is gone, our sovereignty is gone, our security is gone, our education is gone, and our infrastructure is gone. The healthcare is gone.
“Now, we must rise and make sure that there is change, genuine change, a serious change to rectify all these challenges that are happening in the country. I am in this game. We are going to win.’’
He added, “Let the chairman know we are not going to let him get away with his illegalities. We will not. And I hope we will have your support and cooperation to make sure we return to true democracy, to true development in all aspects of human endeavour.”
Obi stressed the need for Nigerians to come together in unity to salvage the country from Tinubu’s leadership.
He stated, “The country is so divided; we need unity. The present government has ensured that it will remain more divided. Your unity is important. Your country is collapsing, and if you allow it to go further, it will be worse. If you check your indices today, when the present government came into being, Nigeria’s ranking in terrorism was number eight.’’
A former Rivers State governor, Amaechi, lampooned the Tinubu administration, saying, ‘’How can a man who said he is a democrat, who claimed he fought on the side of NADECO, be stopping democracy? These guys don’t care. What they care about is money. That’s all they care about.
“They are using the institutions of government against the people of Nigeria. He doesn’t care. So, what kind of man is he? Let me repeat for those who attacked me.
If you, Nigerians, are not angry and hungry, I am. The situation is bad.
It’s terrible. And if you think President Tinubu will give you power, you are wasting your time. The ADC must come together. Decide on a viable candidate. It must be a viable candidate.’’
- Punch
