Abuja – The Nigerian Presidency, reacting to the takeover of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by high-profile opposition actors, has ridiculed the new opposition coalition, dismissing it as a gathering of politically displaced figures lacking real substance.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) also issued a similar stance, labeling the ADC’s realignment as an association of vengeful power-seekers, declaring it had no worries about their activities.
Additionally, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Mr. Nyesom Wike condemned the anti-Tinubu movement, branding its leadership as a team of expired and failed politicians.
This development unfolded as the Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential flag-bearer, Mr. Peter Obi, pledged his backing for the coalition, which intends to unseat President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clarified that it had not formally joined the coalition but maintained openness to align with like-minded Nigerians to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.
At the same time, the LP led by Senator Nenadi Usman urged the public to ignore reports of a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Obi resign or risk expulsion.
Separately, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, who contested for president under the ADC in 2023, outlined conditions under which he would throw his weight behind the coalition.
Within this movement, former Senate President David Mark was appointed interim National Chairman, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was chosen as interim Secretary.
In response, the Presidency dismissed any attempt to equate this group with the 2013 political merger that birthed the APC, describing the coalition instead as a desperate grab for power lacking any guiding principles.
Presidency Labels Coalition as Power-Hungry Actors
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, described the ADC promoters as political “desperados” driven not by ideology or national interest, but by personal ambition and resentment towards President Tinubu.
Writing on his verified X account (@SunsayDareSD), Dare noted that many of the politicians now flocking to the ADC had long distanced themselves from the APC, in some cases even before the 2023 election.
According to Dare, “Rotimi Amaechi’s spirit departed from the APC in 2022 after failing to win the party’s presidential ticket. Likewise, Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General, has been clearly disengaged since Tinubu emerged, especially following his failed bid to govern Kebbi State.”
He described them as lacking principle or vision, a collection of desperate men and women unable to accept political irrelevance, bonded only by their dislike of Tinubu, without a coherent national development agenda.
Dare warned that a coalition based purely on shared bitterness cannot deliver a new Nigeria, urging citizens to stay alert and not be fooled by what he called a weak and short-lived movement.
“This is no credible force for change, but merely a group of politically homeless people seeking relevance,” he stated.
APC Unshaken by ADC Realignment
Felix Morka, spokesperson for the APC, expressed the ruling party’s lack of concern about the coalition, saying:
“While these people busy themselves slinging mud, our great party and President Tinubu remain laser-focused on building a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria for current and future generations.”
Morka dismissed the ADC’s repositioning as “a weak whimper, not the mighty roar they boasted of,” arguing that its members were merely self-centered politicians obsessed with vengeance and power.
He criticized their sense of entitlement to public office, describing them as people who confuse personal interests with the public good, desperate to grab power through deception while parading their questionable public service records.
Morka asked, “What policy ideas do they even offer? What exactly is their alternative plan to the reforms and achievements Nigerians are now experiencing under President Tinubu? Why should citizens trust this group whose only message is a hunger for power at any cost?”
He concluded that Nigerians would see through what he called the coalition’s “grand folly,” praising the country’s ongoing structural economic transformation.
Wike Calls Coalition a Failure Club
Minister Wike also slammed the ADC takeover, arguing the group had nothing new to offer Nigeria.
He referenced former Senate President David Mark’s comments about rescuing the country, pointing out that Mark was Senate President for eight years without a single major project in Otukpo.
Wike also cited former Minister Rotimi Amaechi’s borrowing from China, former Aviation Minister Sirika’s failed Air Nigeria plan, and other examples to dismiss their sincerity.
He further suggested that the exit of politicians like Amaechi and others from the PDP was a blessing for the party, as it rid them of “vampires and buccaneers.”
Speaking in Abuja, Wike told journalists the PDP should seize the moment to rebuild now that opportunists had departed.
He insisted Nigerians should look carefully at the political drama, describing many defectors as motivated by selfish losses and personal grudges rather than true national progress.
Peter Obi Stresses Need for United Front
Mr. Peter Obi argued that a single group alone could never transform Nigeria, emphasizing the necessity of forming alliances to dismantle the poverty and insecurity holding the nation back.
On his verified X page, Obi confirmed the ADC adoption and urged people to join forces to build a truly compassionate leadership in 2027.
He wrote, “This decision is a product of deep reflection on our national crisis and how we must move forward. Bridges must be built, even when they are difficult to build.”
Labour Party Factions Split over Obi’s Role
Meanwhile, the Julius Abure-led LP faction gave Obi 48 hours to quit the party or risk expulsion, citing secret meetings and attempts to lobby members to join his new movement.
Obiora Ifoh, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, accused Obi of trying to ride two horses and vowed that the Labour Party would not tolerate double-dealing politicians.
However, the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party rejected the 48-hour ultimatum, calling it mischievous and lacking legitimacy.
Ken Eluma Asogwa, Senior Special Assistant to Nenadi Usman, described the Abure faction’s stance as that of “political jesters,” explaining the Supreme Court had already disqualified them from LP leadership.
He reaffirmed the LP’s full support for Obi’s participation in the coalition efforts, which aim to rescue Nigeria from APC’s perceived failures.
PDP Stays on the Fence, Open to Partnerships
The PDP also restated that it had yet to join any coalition officially but remained open to alliances with others who share its goals of challenging the ruling party in 2027.
National Publicity Secretary Mr. Debo Ologunagba said the PDP’s priority for now is preparing for its national convention and strengthening its ranks.
He emphasized the PDP’s readiness to work with patriotic Nigerians committed to rescuing the nation from the APC.
Dele Momodu: PDP Members Abandon Ship
PDP chieftain Dele Momodu commented that many PDP leaders were defecting to join the new coalition, leaving the party under the control of Wike and his allies.
He described this as a sign the ruling party fears real competition in 2027, adding that the energy behind this new alliance surpassed even the 2015 Buhari coalition.
Momodu expressed renewed hope that Nigerians would not allow a single man to dominate their future.
Kachikwu Issues Conditions for Coalition Support
Finally, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu demanded that the coalition clearly announce a southern presidential candidate before he would support them.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Kachikwu challenged them to prove their sincerity by publicly stating their intention to rotate the presidency southward in 2027.
He accused some politicians of being old friends pursuing hidden interests and insisted Nigeria’s next transformation must leave their generation behind.
Kachikwu acknowledged the coalition members had already privately agreed to manage internal competition to avoid division, which he said was encouraging.
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