Atiku, El-Rufai, Tambuwal and Top Political Heavyweights Unite at ADC Meeting in Abuja for 2027 Opposition Push

The Nigerian political landscape is witnessing a seismic shift as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, former Sokoto State Governor Senator Aminu Tambuwal, and a host of other high-profile politicians converged in Abuja for a crucial meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition leaders.

The gathering, which took place on Thursday, marked a definitive step by opposition figures to solidify a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections. Notable figures in attendance, besides the trio, included the ADC National Chairman and former Senate President, David Mark, former Minister of Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

A major decision taken at the meeting was the formal adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition’s main political vehicle, effectively putting to rest the earlier African Democratic Association (ADA) project.

In a move aimed at ensuring cohesion, the coalition leaders issued a directive that all members must resign from their current political parties to fully commit to the ADC platform, although a deadline for this compliance was not immediately specified. Furthermore, to preempt internal division, all presidential aspirants within the coalition made a firm commitment to support the eventual winner of the party’s primaries.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, commenting on the meeting, took to his official X account to frame the coalition’s mission, describing it as a movement of the Nigerian people against “the oligarchs who promote poverty and insecurity in the land.”

The emergence of this powerful, diverse coalition under the ADC banner signals a renewed and formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next electoral cycle.