2027: ADC Boasts, ‘We Don’t Need Coalition to Defeat Tinubu’

The African Democratic Congress has said it is confident of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election without depending on a coalition of opposition parties.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he said the ADC was working towards victory with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

Abdullahi said the party remained open to working with other opposition groups, but maintained that a wider coalition was not required for the ADC to defeat the All Progressives Congress and Tinubu.

He said the party believed Atiku had the political strength to defeat the incumbent on his own, adding that the ADC was preparing to mobilise voters across the country.

According to Abdullahi, the party expects support from Nigerians in different parts of the country, including voters who may be dissatisfied with the performance of the Tinubu administration.

He argued that the economic difficulties faced by many Nigerians over the past three years could influence voting decisions in the 2027 election.

The ADC spokesman said the party’s focus was not necessarily on forcing opposition parties to produce a single presidential candidate. Rather, he said discussions with other opposition groups could centre on areas where they could work together.

One area he mentioned was election monitoring and the protection of votes during the 2027 elections. He said opposition parties could develop a joint system for monitoring the polls and ensuring that votes cast by Nigerians were properly protected.

The development comes after earlier efforts by opposition politicians to build a broad coalition against the APC ahead of the 2027 election. Atiku, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola were among the major figures involved in the political realignment around the ADC.

However, the opposition arrangement later suffered setbacks as some of the politicians moved in different political directions. Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso subsequently became associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Atiku remained the ADC’s presidential candidate.

Despite the changes within the opposition camp, Abdullahi said the ADC had not shut its doors to cooperation with other parties. He explained that discussions could continue on areas of common interest without necessarily requiring every opposition party to adopt one presidential candidate.

He also said the ADC was ready to defend its proposal to restore fuel subsidy through a public debate with the APC.
Abdullahi argued that Nigerians deserved to hear both sides of the argument and understand how the different parties planned to tackle the rising cost of living and transportation.

The ADC has made the issue of fuel subsidy one of the major parts of its economic campaign, while the party continues preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

Abdullahi maintained that the party was focused on taking its message to Nigerians and building enough support to challenge Tinubu at the polls.

The ADC had previously said it was still open to a broader opposition alliance, although its latest position suggests that the party believes it can pursue victory even if such an arrangement does not materialise.