By Rafiyat Sadiq
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it will not tie its 2027 presidential ambition to zoning arrangements, stressing the party’s focus on building a strong political structure across Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC is committed to transforming Nigeria’s political landscape by promoting merit, national interest, and people-centred governance.
“As for 2027, let me be clear: we are building the party to be a serious contender, not just a participant. But we are not fixated on the presidency as though it were the only prize worth winning,” Abdullahi said.
He explained that the party is building capacity at all levels to contest and win governorships and national and state assembly seats.
“A party cannot be something built on nothing. We must first build the structure, and when we get to the bridge, we will cross it,” he added.
Abdullahi criticised the dominance of ethnic and regional politics, saying the APC and PDP have relied too heavily on power-sharing at the expense of competence and unity.
“The ADC is not just another party; it is a conscious response to the decline of credible opposition and meaningful engagement in our democracy,” he said.
He described the ADC as a deliberate intervention aimed at providing a clear, principled, and people-driven political alternative.
“The APC was formed to win power in 2015. The ADC was formed to redefine the political space,” he said.
He argued that both the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP have failed to offer Nigerians a coherent vision.
“Take power away from the APC, and you will find there is little holding it together with no ideology, no vision,” Abdullahi stated.
He said the ADC was adopted by the coalition of opposition parties on July 2 as part of a broader plan to reshape national politics.
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“Since then, we’ve begun to offer bold, issue-based engagement with the ruling party,” he said.
On mobilisation efforts, Abdullahi said the party is prioritising grassroots structures.
“Real political change starts at the grassroots. In the South-West, the turnout for our rally in Ekiti last Saturday was massive. In Osun, we’ve seen encouraging momentum. In the South-East and South-South, credible political leaders are building solid community-based structures,” he said.
He dismissed the idea that opposition politics must be noisy.
“We are not here just to oppose. We are here to offer better ideas and a better way of doing politics,” he added.
Coalition Insists on ADA Registration, Denies Abandoning INEC Process
Meanwhile, Dr Umar Ardo, Secretary of the Coalition’s Sub-Committee on the Feasibility of the Registration of a New Political Party, dismissed claims that the coalition has abandoned efforts to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking on the status of the application, Ardo said, “The coalition is anchored on a two-pronged approach. Yes, the ADC has been adopted for now, but we have not withdrawn our application for ADA.”
He clarified that the only misstep was appointing Senator David Mark as ADC chairman, which created the impression that the ADC had fully replaced the coalition’s agenda. “Our application is still undergoing INEC’s process. I believe we’ll get clarity by next week,” he said.
He noted that INEC had recently announced the testing of its online party registration portal and would soon notify eligible groups to proceed with the next steps.
Ardo expressed confidence that ADA would emerge as a viable political force ahead of 2027. “There is no doubt Nigerians are tired of the maladministration of the Bola Tinubu administration,” he said.
He recalled that the decision to float a new party followed the recommendation of the feasibility committee chaired by former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
“This is not just a tactical move. It is a bold strategy to offer Nigerians a true alternative and galvanise public sentiment,” Ardo said.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
