Opposition alliance cracks as power struggle deepens ahead of 2027

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Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the prospect of a united opposition front to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has suffered a major setback following the decision of key leaders to abandon the coalition over disagreements surrounding the presidential ticket.

ZINGTIE reports that the alliance, formed under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, has collapsed.

In March 2025, prominent figures including Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, and former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu formed the coalition with the aim of unseating President Tinubu in 2027.

On July 3, the opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and other major figures from both opposition and ruling parties, adopted the ADC as their platform for the election.

Former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola and former Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami were also key members of the coalition, while former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his supporters joined the movement on March 20, 2026 after leaving the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

However, the coalition has recently begun to fracture due to leadership disputes within the party and the struggle over the presidential ticket.

ZINGTIE reports that negotiations for a consensus candidate broke down after weeks of stalemate between the camps of Atiku and Obi, along with other aspirants contesting for the presidency.

How ADC slipped into unsolvable crisis

On July 2, Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and former national chairman, announced the resignation of members of the National Working Committee (NWC), paving the way for an interim leadership structure headed by David Mark.

However, months after the Mark-led leadership assumed control, a faction led by Nafiu Bala challenged the arrangement.

In a surprising development, Bala insisted he never resigned and argued that, according to the party’s constitution, he should have succeeded the chairman.

Bala subsequently declared himself national chairman of the ADC and vowed to challenge the Mark-led leadership in court.

On September 2, 2025, Bala filed a case at a Federal High Court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025), seeking to prevent Mark’s team from presenting themselves as party leaders.

He also requested an order restraining Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising them and compelling the commission to recognise him as acting national chairman.

He further filed motions to stop the party from conducting meetings, congresses, or conventions pending the outcome of the case.

The motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025, and the trial judge, Emeka Nwite, directed that the respondents, including INEC, be notified to show cause why the motion should not be granted.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, David Mark appealed, challenging the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction to hear Bala’s case.

However, on March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark’s case in its entirety, declaring it incompetent and unmeritorious, prompting further escalation to the Supreme Court.

INEC subsequently suspended recognition of the Mark-led faction.

On April 30, the Supreme Court reinstated David Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC.

While the apex court set aside the Court of Appeal’s directive to maintain the status quo ante bellum, it did not deliver a final verdict on the leadership dispute.

In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Mohammed Lawal Garba, the court held that the Court of Appeal exceeded its jurisdiction by issuing orders after dismissing the appeal.

However, the Supreme Court only partially upheld Mark’s appeal and directed all parties to return to the trial court for continuation of the case.

Battle for ADC presidential ticket

Analysts have pointed to the party’s inability to zone its presidential ticket as a key factor behind the split among opposition leaders.

While Atiku and his allies have been lobbying for the ADC presidential ticket, Obi maintains that it remains the South’s turn, insisting he is better positioned.

Obi’s camp has accused Atiku of attempting to influence party leaders financially to secure the ticket, an allegation his supporters have previously warned against.

It would be recalled that the Obidient Movement had in 2025 declared that their principal would not participate in any “dollarized” primary election.

The fallout has triggered political realignments, with Obi and Kwankwaso reportedly joining the Nigerian Democratic Congress after leaving the ADC.

ZINGTIE also reports that former federal lawmaker Ishaku Abbo resigned from the ADC and joined the Labour Party, citing the ongoing leadership crisis.

Similarly, two House of Representatives members from Kano State, Umar Datti and Sani Wakili, also resigned from the ADC ahead of their planned defection to the NDC.

Sources indicate that more members may leave the party in the coming days ahead of the INEC deadline.

‘It’s what Tinubu wants’ – ADC chieftain

On Sunday, an ADC chieftain in Benue State, Shiminenge Damna, alleged that the Tinubu administration had been working to divide opposition leaders for political advantage.

He said, “President Tinubu is not afraid of Atiku, he is not afraid of Peter Obi, neither is he afraid of Kwankwaso but he is definitely afraid of them coming together. This is the reason for the crisis in ADC.

“They have succeeded in scattering the leaders. The only thing that will be difficult for them now is how to separate Obi and Kwankwaso, but as it stands, Atiku is going to be on ballot and Obi will be on ballot too.

“The divided vote that gave Tinubu victory in 2023 is what they’re about to repeat in 2027.

“Watch out, the whole crisis in ADC will end this week. You will look for Bala and you won’t find him, why?

“He has completed his task. They only want to split votes from the opposition.”

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