- South East Group Advises Igbos to Reject New Party
- No Preferred Presidential Aspirant—Mark
By Peter Salami
A staggering crowd chanting ADC slogans gathered in Gombe State on Tuesday for the formal unveiling of the African Democratic Congress as the platform of choice for the newly formed coalition of opposition parties. The sheer scale of the turnout, captured in viral social media footage, sent a strong signal that the northern political landscape may be shifting, and that the opposition is beginning to find its voice ahead of the 2027 general elections. What many had initially dismissed as a weak and scattered coalition backed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar now appears to be gathering significant momentum, particularly in parts of the North once considered safe territory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Gombe event marked the adoption of the ADC by a broad opposition coalition in the state, which includes defectors and members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), the APC itself, and other political movements. Former Minister of Transportation, Idris Umar, who led the unveiling, told the crowd that the coalition was not just about wresting power from the APC but about restoring good governance, building a more inclusive political system, and improving the lives of everyday Nigerians. He said the partnership was built on mutual respect and a shared vision of putting the country first. Umar also revealed that the effort to build this coalition took more than 18 months of dialogue and consultations with political stakeholders across the country, and that the ADC emerged as the consensus platform because of its openness and progressive ideals.
As part of its next steps, a committee chaired by former Gombe State Deputy Governor, John Yoriyo, and assisted by Shehu Adamu-Fura, was inaugurated to drive a mass registration campaign and expand the coalition’s base in Gombe and across the North. The goal, according to Umar, is to turn the political alliance into a powerful grassroots movement capable of unseating the APC in the state and contributing to a national victory in 2027. He stressed that opposition is the bedrock of any functioning democracy and urged Nigerian youths to shun violence, reject political thuggery, and participate peacefully in the democratic process.
In his remarks at the event, ADC’s Gombe State Chairman, Auwal Barde, commended the dedication of party faithful and emphasized the need for unity, discipline, and focus as the 2027 elections draw closer. He called on members of the coalition to work together to present a credible, people-centered alternative that reflects the frustrations and aspirations of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, in a parallel political development in the South East, a group of young professionals launched a pressure group in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election. At a press conference held in Enugu, the group called on the Igbo people to reject what it described as the “noisy wave of coalitions” and instead align with the political centre by supporting the Tinubu-led APC in 2027. In a prepared statement signed by the group’s convener, John CDO Ikeotuonye, secretary Justin Ogoo Nwankwo, and women leader Vivian Chinyere Nnajiofor, the group argued that it would be politically unwise for the South East to continue to operate from the fringes of national power.
According to the group, the region’s current fragmentation—where four different political parties govern the five states of the South East—speaks to the urgent need for unity. They cautioned that continued political disunity could lead to deeper marginalization, not by the rest of the country but through self-inflicted irrelevance. The group asserted that many of the most influential politicians in the North are now aligning with Tinubu and the APC, while retired and out-of-touch figures are attempting to lure Igbos into what they called “strange alliances.” They emphasized that political engagement must now be based on strategy, inclusion, and relevance rather than emotion and sentiment.
Their newly launched grassroots movement, they said, will focus on youth mobilization, data-driven advocacy, and building strategic partnerships across public and private sectors to ensure that the South East plays a central role in Nigeria’s future. The group warned that the region must act decisively now or risk being left behind.
As these political realignments unfold across regions, the leadership of the ADC at the national level has moved to clarify its position on the 2027 presidential race. Interim National Chairman and former Senate President, David Mark, said the party has not anointed or endorsed any presidential aspirant. Speaking to stakeholders from the Kogi State chapter of the party at a meeting in Abuja, Mark emphasized that the ADC is focused on building a strong, inclusive platform that will appeal to the vast majority of Nigerians disillusioned with both the APC and PDP. He said every member of the party is an equal stakeholder and that the era of political godfatherism and imposition of candidates is over.
Mark stressed the importance of unity and internal cohesion, urging all ADC members to put aside personal ambitions for now and focus on building the party from the ground up. He called for a new kind of politics—one rooted in national development, security, and poverty alleviation—rather than personality clashes and political bitterness. “We must rise to the challenge of rescuing this country, because if Nigeria fails, it will affect all of us,” he said.
In a related development, the ADC’s National Legal Support Group has raised concerns over a legal action filed against the party’s interim leadership, allegedly using the names of individuals who are not registered party members. Legal coordinator, Mohammed Sheriff, said that names cited in the suit from Kogi and Nasarawa States do not appear in either the party’s physical or digital membership registers. He announced that no fewer than 97 lawyers have volunteered to represent the party in court and defend the legitimacy of its leadership.