Programme: City Talks with Reuben Abati

Time: 12:00

Guest: Evans Ufeli Esq.

Principal Partner, Chambers of Evans Ufeli

Topic: Compulsory Voting Bill and Electoral Reforms.

Date: 24th may 2025

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Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday attended the coronation ceremony of the new Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, HRH Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III.

The former Vice President, who is also Atayese of Ijeshaland, was accompanied by his wife, Hajjia Titi Abubakar, who hails from Ilesha township, and former Vice President Namadi Sambo, among many other associates.

Earlier before the coronation ceremony, Atiku paid a courtesy visit to the residence of the former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

After the visit, both Atiku and Aregbesola rode to the reception venue of the coronation ceremony, where they were greeted by a large crowd of supporters.

The coronation ceremony of Oba Haastrup witnessed many dignitaries in attendance, with the new monarch appreciating all for turning up to a tumultuous ceremony.

Atiku Abubakar has since returned to Abuja.

Signed:

Atiku Media Office

We, the undersigned members, express grave concern and deep indignation over the continuing persecution, harassment, and unlawful treatment of Miss Hamdiyyah Sharif, a young Nigerian teenager and vocal social commentator who has been a consistent advocate for improved governance and citizen welfare in Sokoto State.

You may recall that after several bandit attacks in her community resulting in displacement, killings, raping and arson, she tried to communicate this deplorable condition to draw the attention of the State Government on this brutal attack. She wondered why the state government or officials did not bother to visit or sympathize with communities that suffer severe and violent attacks. Sadly, this became the reason for her persecution, intimidation, harassment and threat to life. Rather than the state government to focus on ameliorating the suffering of the people who have some of the worst rate of poverty, almajiri and out-of-school children in Nigeria, it opted to direct its energy on attacking innocent citizens.

Miss Sharif, who was recently declared missing by her legal counsel, was reportedly found later in a hospital in Bakura, Zamfara State, in circumstances that are yet to be fully clarified. Three days ago, Miss Hamdiyyah was reportedly abducted on a commercial tricycle (Napep) in her village, taken to an unknown village where she was injected with unknown substances and abandoned in a bush in Bakura LGA of Zamfara. She was eventually found by good Samaritans, received medical treatment at a hospital, and ended up in a police station. Alarming reports indicate that the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara is under intense pressure to hand her over to the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State. Given the suspicious circumstances of her abduction and the looming threat to her life, we call on the Inspector General of Police to urgently take custody and ensure the protection of Miss Sharif. Should anything happen to her, the Commissioners of Police in both Sokoto and Zamfara will be held responsible.

While her physical recovery remains a priority, the circumstances of her disappearance and the events leading to her hospitalisation raise serious questions about state complicity in the unlawful targeting of critics and the misuse of power by some state officials.

While we do not yet have incontrovertible evidence to directly accuse Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State of orchestrating her ordeal, it is important to state that multiple reports and credible indicators point to alleged state involvement in the ongoing intimidation, harassment, and silencing of Miss Sharif. Such allegations must be taken seriously and investigated transparently by relevant authorities.

We remind His Excellency, the Governor of Sokoto State, of his constitutional oath to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to govern in accordance with rule of law and respect for human rights. The Constitution, under Section 39(1), guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression, and Section 35 guarantees the right to personal liberty. These rights are not gifts from the government—they are entitlements under our Constitution and democratic system.

It is worrisome that the Police and the State Magistrate are being used to maliciously prosecute this teenager for crying out against insecurity and bad governance in the state. It is important that the Inspector General of Police brings sanity in the way and manner the Police are used to harass innocent citizens while bandits and other criminals are on social media mocking and challenging the Nigerian security but are not being dealt with.

The case of Miss Sharif is not isolated. During the “#EndBadGovernance” protests, 29 minors were unlawfully detained for participating in protests decrying Nigeria’s worsening economic situation and insecurity. Months after Civil Society pressure, they were released. However, many remain in deplorable conditions, without rehabilitation, psychosocial support, or access to justice. This is despite the President’s directive to investigate and prosecute the Police officers behind the prosecution of these minors, nothing till today has been done or said.

We cannot continue to have a system that punishes the vulnerable while shielding the powerful.

We salute the courage and efforts by many organizations and individuals, her legal team led by Abba Hikma esq in saving her life and getting her out of this quagmire. We urge more intensity of action by all the groups.

We therefore demand the following:

1. Immediate and unconditional release of Miss Hamdiyyah Sharif from from contrived detention and be accorded full protection for to enable her enjoy her constitutional rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and personal liberty without fear of reprisal.

2. An independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the allegations of state complicity. Those responsible for any wrongdoing must be held to account.

3. The judiciary must act with courage and consistency in upholding the Constitution, as it remains the last hope of every Nigerian, especially the vulnerable ones. Today, hope is a dangerous thing for the average Nigerian citizen to have. It must not be crushed by a judiciary that bows to executive pressure or partisan interference.

4. We call on the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Fatima Ahmed Aliyu (wife of the Sokoto State Governor), and all women in public leadership positions to rise to the occasion and protect the dignity of a fellow woman. At a time when women’s participation in politics and governance in Nigeria is at an all-time low, silence in the face of injustice will only deepen the erosion of gender inclusion and equality. We ask them to speak truth to power and uphold the rights of all women, regardless of their status in the society.

5. We call on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Assembly Committees on Women Affairs, Human Rights, and Judiciary, and all other relevant bodies to immediately commence oversight and enquiry into this case and others like it across Nigeria at large.This will also demonstrate their willingness to address injustice and save the country from global embarrassment and scandal.

6. We want to reaffirm our commitment to collective action and support to end violence against women.Should this situation remain unresolved to save this young girl’s life, we will escalate advocacy to relevant international human rights bodies, including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, diplomatic community and call for visa denial and asset seizure. We will also explore legal redress through international mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This country belongs to us all—young and old, male and female, rich and poor, leader and follower. Civic space must never be a privilege only for the powerful; it is a right guaranteed to all citizens. We will not fold our arms while Nigeria drifts into authoritarianism under the guise of protective regime.

We will continue to mobilise, resist, and speakagainst injustice, because silence is not neutrality—it is complicity.

Signed,

1. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)

#FixPoliticsAmnesty International Nigeria Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED)Global RightsGood Governance TeamMedia Rights AgendaOrganization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN)Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa PAACAPartners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN)Rape is a CrimeSocio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP)Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC)Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action)The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFWIT)Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)Women in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)Yiaga AfricaWali Uwais Access to JusticeEmma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and AccountabilityBorno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)State of the Union (SOTU)Tax Justice and Governance PlatformWest Africa Civil Society Forum (WASCSOF)Women in Mining, NigeriaZero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)Centre for Social JusticeLawyers AlertCentre for Democracy and Development (CDD)Alliance for Surviving COVID-19BudgIT FoundationHuman and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resources Centre)Mothers And Marginalized Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre)Say No Campaign NigeriaCentre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)Girl Child Concerns (GCC)Spaces for Change (S4C)Centre for Social JusticeCentre for Good Governance and Accountability. Daria Media FoundationPublic Procurement Platform Connected Development (CODE)

Accountability Lab

Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT) 

Centre for Women & Adolescent Empowerment, Yola

PRES

The newly inaugurated board of Nigeria’s state oil firm, NNPC Limited, says it is open to all options regarding the future of the country's refineries, including potential asset sales.

OOV

Board chairman Ahmadu Musa Kida told journalists at the Presidential Villa that the company would remain transparent and honest in its dealings, adding that difficult decisions would not be avoided. He said the board would consider “all options” in restoring the refineries and repositioning the firm.

Group CEO Bayo Ojulari said preliminary inspections had been carried out on two refineries, with a third scheduled in the coming weeks. He noted that transforming NNPC into a fully commercial limited liability company under the Companies and Allied Matters Act would take time possibly up to five years and urged public support through the transition.

He added that while an initial public offering remains part of the long-term vision, it would take at least another two years of hard work before the company can realistically claim progress towards that goal.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier sworn in the 11-member board, which pledged to prioritise key investments and deliver on performance targets as it assumes full operational control of the company.

The last time a public official wept on national TV, Nigerians regretted offering her towels instead of buckets to collect her tears. She was acting, but we didn’t know it.

Diezani Allison-Madueke had just been appointed Minister of Transport and went on a tour to assess some major roads. At the Benin end of the Lagos-Benin highway, she broke down and wept. She was seeing for the first time, outside her bubble, what Nigerians knew and endured daily: poor, hazardous roads.

Her tears changed nothing. She left the roads in a worse state than she found them, but Nigeria being Nigeria, she went on to become the Minister for Petroleum Resources and subsequently left the place in a more disastrous condition than Nigerian roads.

On May 15, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, wept on national TV for a different reason. As a result of human negligence, the results of the 2025 UTME examination went horribly wrong, affecting 379,997 out of the 1.9 million students who took the exam. It was not a system glitch as widely reported. Some individuals responsible for patching or updating the servers were negligent, leading to a disastrous outcome.

Paying the price

The grief lies in the details. For instance, 19-year-old Faith Opesusi Timileyin, who was re-sitting the exam, hoping to study microbiology if she could improve on the 193 out of 400 she scored last year, took her own life by ingesting poison. She could not bear the shame of failing again. The same echoes of embarrassment and distress resonated across the country as thousands of young people, who made sacrifices and braved difficult conditions to take the exam, now contemplate their fate and what could have been.

Yet, Nigerians, despite being jaded by years of disappointment with incompetent public officials, can sense the difference between Diezani’s crocodile tears and Oloyede’s misery. One was a con artist; the other, the victim of “horrible, but not unexampled error,” as Farooq Kperogi noted in his column on Saturday.

Remaking of JAMB

Oloyede’s JAMB is not JAMB as it was. One of the biggest dramas in the institution’s 47-year history unfolded two years after he was appointed registrar, following his exceptional record as vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin. JAMB introduced computerised examinations in 2014, but the system, still in its infancy at the time, was marred by delays, confusion, and scratch-card fraud.

Oloyede ordered an investigation, which found that the place was infested with snakes, including boa constrictors, that had allegedly swallowed millions of naira from the sale of scratch cards, except that the snakes were human beings. One Philomina Chieshe, a clerk at JAMB’s Benue State office, swallowed N36 million from the sale of scratch cards and told investigators and the court that it was indeed a snake that had mysteriously devoured the money.

Killing the snakes

Seven years after she was arraigned, neither Chieshe nor any of the reptiles in the scratch-card hole have been held accountable for the fraud. Apart from swallowing N36 million, which was equivalent to $100,000 at the time, the snakes also appear to have swallowed the courts and the prosecutors.

I have criticised JAMB in the past for several reasons, mainly because I still believe that a decentralised placement system, as practised in pre-1978 Nigeria, the US, and South Korea, works better.

Yet, whatever the inadequacies of JAMB, the board has, especially under Oloyede’s leadership in the last nine years, transformed from a snake-infested wasteland of corruption and mediocrity into one of Nigeria’s most responsive and better-run public institutions.

Fresh air

In a country where lawmakers routinely inflate the appropriation bill by billions of naira, and ministries and government departments are broke, unimaginative and opaque, Oloyede is a breath of fresh air. He has remitted over N55 billion to the federal treasury, compared to less than N60 million remitted in the 38 years preceding his tenure.

But it’s not just about the money. To promote openness, accountability, and inclusiveness on the board, he expanded the decision-making process to include independents and other professionals in monitoring and evaluating the board’s activities, particularly the UTME exam. Still, despite our best efforts, bad things happen.

‘Not unexampled’

The 2025 UTME disruption was a horrible mishap. Still, it’s not without recent examples, one from Oxford University in 2023 and the other from the 2025 US SAT exams, both of which were cited in Kperogi’s article. There was a particularly heart-rending debacle in September 2023 when the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK made a catastrophic error in the Part 2 written results of the postgraduate medical diploma exam.

Two hundred and twenty-two doctors were informed that they had passed when in fact they had failed, while 61 were told they had failed despite passing. Imagine the horror of the patients who may have been treated by “failed” doctors, not to mention the distress of those who passed but were told they failed, or the anguish of those who made progress yet were instructed to re-sit the exam.

To resign or not?

After taking responsibility for the error, Oloyede told the press that he was prepared to resign, but was persuaded that his resignation would compound rather than solve the problem. I agree. I do not share the view that all those calling for his resignation are necessarily out to settle personal scores, even though this may be correct in some instances, especially among politicians who have decided to ethnicise the matter.

The registrar bears a responsibility to the memory of the candidate who died, to the thousands of hard-working candidates who gave their best in the exam, and to the reputation he has established as an exemplary public servant to reform the system and use the lessons from this tragic episode to enhance the processes and outcomes of future exams.

Wake-up call

Parents must also play a role. We exaggerate the significance of UTME results beyond their true value, placing unnecessary pressure on candidates. Under the current system, most universities and institutions of higher learning offer admission based on the weighted average of three examination results. While the UTME result constitutes 50 per cent of the final score, the WASSCE or O/Level results and post-UTME exams, if conducted, make up the remaining 50 per cent.

Unfortunately, we have constructed a dangerous illusion that everything hinges on performance at JAMB, resulting in a frantic quest for JAMB success that now haunts us. We may never know if Faith would have taken her own life had she realised that a low JAMB score alone does not necessarily signify the end of the road to admission.

Fall to rise

Oloyede’s tears may seem insufficient to assuage a nation in grief, but he has demonstrated, over the last nine years and long before he became registrar, that he does not take his job lightly. One mishap should not define his tenure. When the ongoing investigation is complete and the house cleaning done, a sceptical public must know the steps taken to prevent a repeat.

Ishiekwene, Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP, is the author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. 

Multiple sources close to Atiku and Obi’s camps, who spoke with Punch on the condition of anonymity due to a lack of official authorization, disclosed that a meeting held on Tuesday night marked a significant step in the ongoing coalition efforts.

During this meeting, the coalition leaders agreed to adopt ADC as the central platform for their political alliance.

The sources further revealed that efforts were already underway to restructure and strengthen ADC in preparation for the 2027 election, with official announcements on the changes expected in the coming days.

Brief history of ADC

Founded in 2005 by a group of political reformers and civic-minded Nigerians, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has steadily positioned itself as a centrist party committed to inclusive governance, youth empowerment, and national development. At the helm since inception is Ralphs Okey Nwosu, who remains the party’s National Chairman and key architect of its ideological identity.

Though yet to break into the top tier of national vote share, the ADC has consistently fielded presidential candidates:

2023: Dumebi Kachikwu emerged as the party’s flag bearer, polling 81,919 votes and finishing fifth overall, behind APC’s Bola Tinubu, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, LP’s Peter Obi, and NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso.

2019: Dr. Obadiah Mailafia secured 97,874 votes, placing fourth among 73 contestants.

2015: Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad polled 29,666 votes, ranking seventh out of 14 candidates.

These results reflect the ADC’s steady performance in Nigeria’s crowded electoral field, often emerging as a credible alternative behind the dominant parties.

The ADC has had notable presence in the National Assembly, especially in Kogi State:

Leke Abejide was re-elected in 2023 to represent Yagba Federal Constituency, winning with 23,271 votes, outperforming both APC and PDP challengers.

Salman Idris, also elected in 2023 under the ADC to represent Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, has since defected to the APC.

With the PDP, Labour Party (LP), and NNPP grappling with internal crises, political analysts are increasingly viewing the ADC as a stable third-force platform for opposition realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Its track record of participation, internal coherence, and centrist ideology makes it an attractive vessel for coalition talks and strategic partnerships among reformist political actors.

[NaijaNews]

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) appears to have emerged as the new political bride in Nigeria’s opposition landscape, following its adoption by a coalition of opposition leaders as the platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Previously on the fringes of national politics, the party was adopted by coalition leaders on Tuesday night in what one proponent described as “the official birth of the coalition”.

The coalition, which is led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, was formally announced on March 20. However, a decision on which political platform to adopt had been delayed by several rounds of talks, initially with the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The SDP had appeared the frontrunner after El-Rufai defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking a wave of interest from his supporters and other northern political leaders. But cracks soon emerged. SDP’s national chairman, Shehu Gabam, ruled out participation in any party merger, publicly declaring that the party would not allow itself to be used as a “special-purpose vehicle by selfish politicians.”

Following weeks of consultations, coalition leaders met in Abuja on Tuesday night and resolved, among other decisions, to adopt the ADC as their platform of choice, Daily Trust gathered.

The meeting was confirmed by El-Rufai in Katsina yesterday, although he did not disclose details of what was agreed.
“Yesterday at 8 p.m., there was a very important meeting of the coalition we are putting together to ensure that President Tinubu returns to Lagos in 2027. But we will keep the minister (referring to Bosun Tijjani, the minister of communications and digital economy) because he is doing well,” El-Rufai said during remarks at Arewa Tech Fest.
Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, confirmed the ADC’s adoption as the coalition’s platform.

“Yes, ADC has been agreed as the party,” he said. “The coalition leaders have set up relevant committees and directed them to resolve grey areas in the arrangement and prepare for a public unveiling,” he added, when asked about the terms agreed with the ADC.

On the breakdown of talks with the SDP, Ibe said, “The SDP was never really a platform under serious consideration. It was a strategic move to house the CPC component of the APC ahead of a formal transition. You could call it a container to absorb CPC elements before moving to the final platform.”

“But they’ve moved beyond the SDP now. They are now in the ADC.”
Explaining the rationale behind the ADC choice, he said, “The party met all the coalition’s requirements. The coalition leaders were clear about what they were looking for in a platform, and ADC must have satisfied those expectations.”

While stating he was not privy to all the specific requirements, Ibe noted that ADC was not the only party considered, but it was ultimately chosen at the end of the process.

“The coalition is now official, but there is still work for the committees to do, including finalising the party structure and leadership. The public unveiling will simply formalise what was achieved during Tuesday night’s meeting of all major stakeholders.”

While it was gathered that the coalition leaders have yet to reach a consensus on who will fly the party’s flag in the 2027 presidential election, sources indicated that the unspoken understanding is that the conversation would likely commence now that the platform issue has been settled.

One source said, “Everyone will be allowed to contest for the presidency,” adding that there is a tacit gentleman’s agreement that whoever emerges as the candidate would receive the backing of the rest.

A brief on ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) was established in 2005 by a group of political activists and reform-minded Nigerians. The key figure behind it is Ralphs Okey Nwosu, who has served as the party’s national chairman since its inception. The party positions itself as a centrist platform advocating inclusive governance, youth empowerment and national development.

Over the years, the ADC has participated in several general elections, fielding presidential candidates and contesting legislative seats. In the 2023 presidential election, the party nominated Dumebi Kachikwu as its flag bearer. While it has consistently taken part in presidential races, its candidates have not secured significant vote shares. For instance, in 2023, the party polled 81,919 votes, placing fifth overall behind the APC’s Bola Tinubu, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the NNPP’s Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In the 2019 election, the ADC candidate, the late Dr Obadiah Mailafia, garnered 97,874 votes to finish fourth out of 73 candidates. In 2015, the party fielded Dr Mani Ibrahim Ahmad, who polled 29,666 votes and placed seventh out of 14 contestants.

In the 2023 National Assembly elections, Leke Abejide was re-elected to represent Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State under the ADC platform. He won with 23,271 votes, defeating candidates from both the APC and PDP. The party also secured another House of Representatives seat through Salman Idris, who was elected to represent Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi State, although he has since defected to the APC.

Analysts believe the ADC’s consistency in past presidential elections, where it has steadily emerged behind the major contenders, positioned it as a viable option for the emerging coalition—especially given the ongoing internal crises in the three leading opposition parties: PDP, LP and NNPP.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP), earlier considered by the coalition, reportedly fell short of expectations after concerns emerged that the ruling APC may have influence over its leadership, raising fears that the party could face the same fate as other compromised opposition platforms before 2027.

It was also gathered that the coalition factored in the possibility that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might exercise its power to deregister political parties that fail to meet the threshold of winning seats in the National Assembly or state legislatures. This concern further tilted the preference toward the ADC.
Similarly, the absence of leadership tussles within the party since its inception was also seen as a positive factor.

ADC chair: We’ll meet coalition committee today

Also speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, ADC National Chairman Ralphs Nwosu confirmed the party would meet today with the committee it had set up to interface with the coalition.

“The coalition discussion is ongoing. We are still engaging many patriots—party leaders and civil society actors. If it works out, it’s not about quid pro quo. It’s about Nigeria,” Nwosu said.

“It’s for anyone ready to make sacrifices to save this country and make Nigeria work. As we speak, the poverty rate is alarming—75.5 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line. The only way we can reposition our country to become a continental leader and attain global relevance is through sacrifice. So anyone joining this coalition must be ready to make that sacrifice.”

Asked if he had personally met Atiku, Obi or El-Rufai, Nwosu replied in the negative.
“What ADC has done is to set up two major committees. Each has a chairman, a secretary and members. One committee is led by Dr Bamidele Ganiyu Ajadi, our deputy national chairman in charge of politics. He heads one of them.

“The second committee is led by Dr Mani Ibrahim Ahmad. They’ve been travelling across the country, engaging with different actors, and they’re expected to brief us officially. That’s why we’re all in Abuja. They will brief us tomorrow (Thursday).”

He added: “We’ll have a major NWC and NEC meeting tomorrow, where we’ll receive committee briefings. By then, we should have more clarity.”

Asked about the committees’ terms of reference, Nwosu said: “Nigeria first, always. That’s number one. Then inclusion, which our handshake symbol represents. We must embrace full inclusiveness. There are those unwilling to do that—we don’t want to work with them.

“Our handshake says it all: a handshake across Nigeria. Members of this coalition must also have a continental worldview. You can’t focus solely on local, narrow, ethnocentric perspectives. That’s why we are the African Democratic Congress. Nigeria has over 20 per cent of Africa’s population. You can’t discuss Nigeria’s future without a continental approach.

“This is Africa’s moment. These are the parameters the committees were given—to prioritise inclusion and a strong African continental vision.”

On the involvement of APC members, Nwosu said: “This coalition is broad-based. We have people from all political parties, including APC, joining us. Many APC members are pushing for it because they’re disillusioned. What they see now is not what they bargained for.

“Many of our politicians start out with good intentions but get trapped in systems that corrupt them. This coalition process has taken over six months, and some ask why. It’s because we make people reflect deeply before any engagement. Are you ready to put Nigeria first? How can we correct past mistakes? If you’ve been a governor or held any position, how can you make amends and help us move forward?

“Those reflections have taken place—and they will continue. By the grace of God, by 2027, Nigeria will have a president ready to act from day one, one who will fundamentally change the country’s strategic direction.”
Recall that Nwosu had last week hinted that the party had been chosen as the coalition’s platform to challenge the ruling APC in the 2027 general election.

Speaking during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last Thursday through the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mani Ahmed, Nwosu said that while the process of building consensus had been painstaking and time-consuming, it had now reached a decisive phase.

“I can categorically, today, by the grace of God, inform you that the African Democratic Congress is the coalition party in Nigeria. What remains to be done is nothing other than dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s,” he said.
He added that the coalition presents a significant opportunity for the ADC to embrace and accommodate all Nigerians, regardless of background.

“By this gesture, we are inviting every Nigerian who loves this country to join us in this new crusade to bring about enduring democratic change in our nation by coming into our party—the African Democratic Congress—which can easily be seen as the African Democratic Coalition,” he said.

It’s a walkover for us – APC

Reacting to the development, the APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told Daily Trust yesterday that the 2027 election would be a walkover for the party.

He described the ADC as inconsequential and said that with its adoption by the opposition coalition, the APC could begin celebrating even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases the election guidelines.

“If Atiku is not confident of victory under the banner of the PDP, or he is not confident that the PDP can champion the cause to victory, and he is moving to a party that doesn’t even have a local government—and that is the platform they plan to rally round to give APC sleepless nights—I think they have made our job easier. We are not rattled; the election will be a walkover for us,” Ibrahim said.

We await official confirmation – PDP, LP

When contacted, Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the party would not comment until the development is officially confirmed.

Asked whether the party was concerned that its 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, could be on his way out just weeks after the departure of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP spokesman said Atiku’s purported exit remained speculative.

“What we are focused on now is our upcoming NEC meeting,” he said.
Similarly, the Labour Party (LP) dismissed the report of the adoption of ADC as the platform to challenge President Tinubu in 2027 as hearsay.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, told Daily Trust on Wednesday that the LP would not comment on the matter.

“We can’t comment on hearsay,” Ifoh said.

His remarks followed the party’s repeated insistence that it was not engaged in any merger talks.
“The Labour Party is not in any merger or coalition talks with anyone—be it individuals, parties, or organisations. We are aware of individuals engaged in such talks for their personal and selfish reasons. They are not representing the Labour Party. We are not involved in any merger or coalition,” Ifoh added.

On his part, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Obi’s support group, Dr Yunusa Tanko, told Daily Trust that it was better for the leaders involved to formally address the matter.

“I have said that what is currently going on is discussion at individual levels, and the leaders in such discussions should be allowed to come public on their decisions,” Tanko said.

Asked about the reported collapse of merger talks with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Tanko stated there was no such engagement involving the SDP, the Obidient Movement, or Peter Obi personally.
On the reported conditions met before the ADC was adopted as the coalition’s party for the 2027 elections, he said: “The individuals having discussions should be allowed to come public on their discussions.”

Coalition not considering PDP’s participation – Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has ruled out the PDP as a potential participant in the emerging coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking on Arise Television on Wednesday, Lawal — one of the leading figures in the coalition — said stakeholders have focused discussions on creating a new political platform, either through registering a fresh party or adopting and repositioning an existing one. According to him, the PDP has been deemed unsuitable due to entrenched structural defects.

“In all the meetings I’ve attended so far, nobody has ever considered adopting the PDP as the platform,” Lawal said. “We all agree that the PDP has an incurable virus. No antibiotics can cure what is ailing the PDP, and we don’t want to go into a house that we cannot modify, that is not willing to change.”

He said the coalition — comprising prominent politicians disenchanted with the current political order — is driven by a shared commitment to building a credible alternative. He also confirmed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains actively involved in the process.

According to Lawal, the coalition is expected to unveil its new political platform soon to address growing public interest and uncertainty over its structure and direction.

His comments followed a statement by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (Benue South), who insisted that the PDP’s nationwide presence and institutional experience place it in the best position to anchor any viable opposition coalition.

Political analysts weigh in

The National President of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Prof. Hassan Saliu, said Nigerians should concede that the political actors who moved to the ADC may have done their groundwork before settling on the platform.

According to him, the current political trajectory has moved beyond the debate over the most preferred party, and only time will tell whether the coalition made the right call.

“ADC is a registered political party and does not want to remain a fringe player. The influx of disgruntled elements from other parties could help it gain national relevance. But the movement is more about capturing power than genuine affection for the party,” Prof. Saliu said.

He noted that the decision may have been spurred by the uncompromising posture of key leaders within the SDP where the coalition initially leaned. “They probably foresaw resistance to taking over the party structure and saw the ADC as a softer landing. Unlike the SDP, which appears somewhat rigid, the ADC has little to lose and more to gain.”

On whether the ADC could make a significant impact in the upcoming elections, Prof. Saliu said historical precedents like the merger that birthed the APC suggest that nothing is impossible in politics. “Every political gamble carries risks,” he added.

However, Prof. Gbade Ojo offered a more sceptical view, describing the move as a misstep that amounts to “starting from scratch”.

According to him, the ADC lacks the political structure necessary to mount a serious challenge—no senators, governors or local government control. “Politics is about structure, and the ADC currently controls none. Their move only strengthens the ruling party’s chances,” he said.

Prof. Ojo observed that the coalition elements appear confused, having flirted with both the SDP and now the ADC. “They’ve not crafted a coherent strategy. Their disarray may lead to voter apathy in 2027 if citizens are left with no viable alternative, which could affect the legitimacy of any eventual winner.”

He stressed that even the ruling party should be concerned about the weakening of opposition, noting that robust democracy thrives on a healthy opposition. “The fundamental problem is that these coalition elements are not ideologically aligned, which limits how far they can go. That’s bad for our democracy,” he warned.

For Chief Peter A. Olorunnisola (SAN), the larger issue is not whether the coalition can challenge the ruling party, but how to foster good governance.

“We must move away from the assumption that governance only improves when there’s a strong opposition. In the past, people like the late Chief Awolowo provided constructive opposition through intellectual engagement, not mere antagonism.”

He added, “Opposition should not be about pulling the government down at all costs. Even in countries with dominant party systems, governance can thrive when institutions work. What we need is maturity in our political engagement.”

[DailyTrust]