…As ADC Intensifies Mobilisation Ahead of 2027
By John Paul
As political manoeuvres towards the 2027 general elections gather momentum, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has commenced strategic engagements across Northern Nigeria to drum up support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. His mobilisation drive comes amidst a parallel push by the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition to build a formidable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
While Gbajabiamila was rallying Northern support for Tinubu’s continuity, prominent opposition figure and former APC chieftain, Mallam Salihu Lukman, was in Kaduna canvassing for a nationwide coalition under the ADC banner to challenge Tinubu’s second-term ambitions.
Lukman, a former APC National Vice Chairman (North West), urged Nigerians and political stakeholders to seize the moment to correct past errors in party formation by embracing a unified political front built on inclusion, unity, and solutions to Nigeria’s deepening socio-economic woes. He warned that failure to act decisively could turn Nigeria into a de facto one-party state dominated by the APC by 2027.
According to Lukman, the opposition coalition’s decision to adopt ADC as its platform came after 18 months of extensive consultations with political leaders across the country. He emphasised that personal political ambitions were deliberately set aside to foster genuine collaboration, resulting in the selection of the ADC as a neutral and adaptable platform.
Lukman highlighted that the ADC leadership had agreed to restructure the party to accommodate the coalition, leading to the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman and ex-Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. He stressed that the next critical phase is to replicate this unity at state levels, starting with Kaduna, by bringing together political actors genuinely committed to addressing the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
He cautioned against the temptation by political leaders to operate in silos, build exclusionary structures, or impose loyalists, warning that such tendencies had previously stifled internal democracy and derailed past political platforms. Lukman advocated for a transparent membership drive and a democratic restructuring of party leadership to reflect the coalition’s new dynamics.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the political divide, Gbajabiamila was galvanising former Northern legislators to rally behind President Tinubu’s re-election. Speaking at the 2025 Dialogue Session of the Northern Caucus of the National Forum of Former Legislators in Abuja, he urged Northern political elites to unite in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid, stressing the importance of continuity, unity, and respect for power rotation agreements.
Gbajabiamila portrayed Tinubu as a national leader who has been inclusive in his governance, citing infrastructural developments and agricultural initiatives in the North as evidence of balanced leadership. He argued that Tinubu’s re-election is in the North’s best interest, as it would ensure the completion of the South’s tenure and maintain national stability.
Echoing his sentiments, the Northern Caucus, in a communiqué officially endorsed Tinubu’s re-election bid, framing it as a strategic decision for national cohesion. The National Forum’s Chairman, Nnanna Igbokwe, described the endorsement as a “bold and patriotic move” that could inspire other regions to follow suit in the spirit of unity and political continuity.
The forum also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts in tackling insecurity across volatile Northern states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Plateau, Benue, and Niger, noting that sustainable development is impossible without addressing the growing security challenges.
The dialogue session is said to be part of a broader nationwide consultation effort by the Forum of Former Legislators aimed at promoting inclusive governance, ensuring a smooth democratic transition, and fortifying President Tinubu’s re-election prospects.