By Andrew Haruna
The Bureau News
A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly rejected the recent adoption of the party as the platform for a proposed opposition coalition, warning that the ADC is not a political property to be hijacked by elites.
In a statement signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Musa Isa Matara, the group condemned the move by top opposition figures who, on Tuesday, claimed to have selected the ADC as their official vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
“We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully,” Matara stated.
“Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain. The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”
The statement claimed that key stakeholders of the ADC—including state chairmen, youth and women leaders, and ward coordinators—were not consulted before the announcement of the coalition, describing the development as an imposition.
Background
The statement follows a high-level opposition strategy meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, which brought together political heavyweights including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).
Following the meeting, the leaders adopted ADC as the coalition platform and announced Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as interim national chairman and secretary respectively. Former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, was named spokesperson of the coalition.
But the factional leadership of the ADC has distanced itself from the arrangement.
“The claim that the ADC has become the ‘platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group’ is misleading. Our millions of members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition,” the statement read.
It added that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) or National Convention did not ratify the appointments made at the meeting, warning that such moves violate internal party processes and undermine democratic values.
Legal Complications
The group also highlighted ongoing legal disputes within the ADC since the 2023 general elections, noting that unresolved court cases make the coalition arrangement legally shaky.
“Let it be known to those who are trooping into our party under this chaotic coalition arrangement that the ADC has been battling unresolved legal crises since the 2023 general elections,” Matara said.
“Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive.”
The faction expressed openness to a genuine coalition effort but insisted that any merger or alliance must follow due process, involve grassroots stakeholders, and respect party autonomy.
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