By Rafiyat Sadiq
Former Senate President and Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, on Wednesday unveiled the agenda of a new opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, made up of several prominent political figures, is aiming to provide what it described as a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The unveiling took place at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, after a last-minute cancellation by the initial venue, Wells Carlton Hotel & Apartments.
Mark said the coalition, which has adopted the ADC as its platform, is committed to steering Nigeria away from insecurity, economic hardship, and failed governance.
Coalition Structure and Leadership
The coalition is the outcome of a meeting hosted on Tuesday night by opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, under the banner of the National Opposition Coalition Group. Following the meeting, the ADC was adopted as the political base for the coalition.
The Atiku-led coalition had earlier submitted an application to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as their party. They, however, also adopted ADC as their driver to the presidency, being an already existing party as plan B.
David Mark, a former long-serving member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was appointed Interim National Chairman. Former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, was named Interim National Secretary, while former Youth and Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, will serve as the group’s spokesperson.
Other members of the group are former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rotimi Amechi (Rivers), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Suleiman Lamido (Jigawa).
READ ALSO: Opposition Endorsement Draws Fire from Ex-ADC Candidate
“A Mission to Rescue”
Mark told attendees that the coalition’s objective goes beyond winning the 2027 election. He said it seeks to rebuild Nigeria’s democracy, protect lives, and offer hope to struggling citizens.
“This coalition is determined to offer Nigerians a path to security, prosperity, peace, and progress,” Mark said. “Coming from various party affiliations, we are united in our resolve to present a constructive alternative to the hardship, insecurity, and waste that has become the hallmark of the current APC government.”
He criticised the Tinubu administration for what he described as abandonment of governance, neglect of the people’s welfare, and rising corruption.
He said, “We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications. A government more concerned with the next election rather than the survival of the ordinary Nigerians.”
He also decried the worsening security situation in the country, citing rampant banditry, kidnappings, and killings.
He lamented, “We have never seen this level of insecurity across the length and breadth of our nation. Bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians at will and on a daily basis. Yet, this ongoing tragedy has not moved the government to any action that would stop these mindless killings and stem the tide of needless bloodshed.”
Call For Unity and Support As Coalition pledge to Tackle Insecurity, Hardship
Mark urged Nigerians from all walks of life to join the coalition’s effort to reclaim the country.
He said, said“ThisThis coalition is for all Nigerians who share in our belief that all of us, the young and the old, men and women, rich and poor, living with disabilities or not, town dwellers or villagers, we all have the patriotic duty to save our country.”
He extended the coalition’s message directly to those suffering the most under current conditions:
“To all those citizens who believe that Nigeria’s democracy is worth fighting for, this coalition is for you. To all youth who face an uncertain future and have questioned the value of their education and their certificates, this coalition is for you.
“To all our brothers and sisters in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, Kaduna, Edo, and parts of the South East, South West, and South-South who live under constant fear of violence and terror, this coalition is for you.”
He added that the coalition is also for those who believe that they deserve better, who have been promised much and given so little, for whom renewed hope has turned to renewed hopelessness.
He called on citizens to join the coalition and be a part of an historic rescue mission.
Beyond 2027
Mark said the mission of the coalition transcends political ambition and electoral cycles. Its goal, he noted, is to restore faith in governance and protect Nigeria’s democratic values.
“Our mission transcends any electoral calendar. It is a commitment to rebuild the guardrails of our democracy, to anchor power once again in the will of the people, and to hand to our children a nation worthy of their talents and their dreams.”
Mark concluded with a rallying call: “So, stand with us. Join this house. Let history record that when our democracy faltered, we rose, not in fear, but in faith.”
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.