•David Mark and Tinubu
Barring any last-minute change, the anti-Tinubu coalition is set to announce the African Democratic Congress as its adopted platform.
It was also gathered that former Senate President, David Mark, would serve as the Interim National Chairman of the party, reports Sunday PUNCH.
The decisions were reportedly taken by leaders of the anti-Tinubu group, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
Three credible sources confirmed that Mark had accepted to be the new leader of the party.
Sources noted that the coalition was still in the process of selecting a National Secretary following the decision of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and Senator Ben Obi to decline the offer.
Insiders said a consensus would soon be reached on the position of the national secretary, adding that the ADC would be officially unveiled later this week.
The coalition
President Tinubu’s administration has experienced a mix of achievements and setbacks across various sectors.
However, opposition leaders from different political parties have consistently criticised the All Progressives Congress-led government, describing it as a failure.
Despite their criticisms, the major opposition parties —including the PDP, LP, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Social Democratic Party —have all been grappling with internal crises.
In response, on March 20, Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, and others announced in Abuja the formation of a coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The announcement ignited nationwide discussions about the potential for a united opposition, with political observers sharing mixed reactions.
Over the past three months, there have been various reports speculating on which political platform the coalition would adopt.
Multiple sources confirmed to our correspondent that the SDP was rejected due to the dominance of President Tinubu’s loyalists within its structure.
Coalition finalises plans
One of the reliable sources disclosed to our correspondent that the coalition leaders would meet in Abuja on Wednesday to finalise all unresolved matters.
He stated, “What I can tell you is that we have all agreed on the ADC as the national coalition platform. So, ADC is our party, and that has been settled.
“Another significant development is that we have all agreed that former President of the Senate, David Mark, should serve as the Interim National Chairman.
“We would have also resolved the issue of the National Secretary, but Aregbesola turned it down. He cited age and mentioned that his wife advised him to slow down. Senator Ben Obi also declined the offer. So, we will settle that later.
“We had planned to unveil the party already, but Labour Party’s Peter Obi said he wanted to consult with his supporters, including a governor and some lawmakers. Hopefully, we will make the official announcement this week. And we will all leave our political platforms for the ADC.”
Another key figure involved in the movement revealed that loyalists of the leaders participating in the alliance had already begun integrating into the ADC.
He stated, “We adopted the ADC because time is no longer on our side, and INEC appears unwilling to register some of the political parties we previously proposed.
“The agreement is that we will all leave our various parties and move to the platform we’ve agreed upon— ADC. Once it is unveiled, you will see each of us formally dumping our former platforms for the coalition party.
“We have an important meeting scheduled for next Wednesday to finalise other key issues, including the position of National Secretary. David Mark has already agreed to serve as the National Chairman.
“Our people have already joined the ADC. The current National Chairman of the ADC, along with some members of the party’s National Working Committee, will voluntarily step down to make room for the coalition leaders and ensure equitable distribution of party offices.”
Reacting to the development, the National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, described Mark as one of the most disciplined Nigerians and a suitable leader for the party.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Nwosu said he was prepared to step down from his current position to make way for Mark.
According to him, a major announcement will be made once negotiations are finalised later this week.
He stated, “I am aware of the development. The conversation has been ongoing for about 18 months. We are all committed to rescuing Nigeria from the failed APC. Enough of poverty and insecurity.
“There is no better detribalised Nigerian that can lead ADC than former Senate President, David Mark.
“What we are doing is beyond politics and power grabbing, and if you look at it, one of the most disciplined, committed, and someone who thinks Nigeria first is former President of the Senate, David Mark.
“No better person to do the job of ADC National Chairman and bring everybody together beyond politics than David Mark. I am ready to step aside and sacrifice for Nigeria.
“To me, Nigeria comes first. Our democracy has been compromised beyond everything, so we must move forward.”
In response to a question about when these political heavyweights will be formally welcomed into the party, Nwosu said, “In various ways, most of them have already been integrated. For example, in Anambra State, the person flying the ADC ticket is a chieftain of the Labour Party, and the running mate is a member of the PDP. So, these are LP and PDP leaders contesting under the ADC platform — you can see it’s already working.
“Eighty per cent of those vying for various offices in the Federal Capital Territory under the ADC were, at some point, members of the PDP, LP, and even the APC.
“Within the next week (this week), everything will be concluded, and they will be officially received. Everything will be wrapped up within this new week so that the party’s journey towards a new Nigeria can begin.”
A key stakeholder in the coalition movement and loyalist of Atiku, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that negotiations had reached an advanced stage.
The source stated, “Things are at a very advanced stage. A series of meetings were scheduled in the build-up to a formal declaration.
“Before next week runs out, the announcement will be made. I don’t want to put a specific date, but it will happen. It will be made with respect to the platform and the leadership of that platform.”
A Labour Party chieftain and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the former Anambra governor was ready to take any necessary steps to rescue Nigeria.
Tanko also confirmed that the media would soon be invited for an important announcement.
The coordinator of the Obidient Movement, who acknowledged that Obi was currently in the Labour Party, stated that he was willing to leave the party if joining another platform would contribute to rescuing Nigeria.
“That is his position. In fact, you remember, right from the beginning, he has said that a coalition interested in taking people out of poverty, ensuring good security, addressing the health situation in Nigeria, improving education, and promoting economic well-being — that is what he stands for.
“That has been his position. As long as it is in the interest of Nigeria, he is in the coalition for that particular purpose,” he added.
On the development in the coalition, Tanko said, “Yes, there may be a pronouncement in the coming days. We will call everybody and let you know. I am not in charge of the secretariat. The secretariat will let you know the date.
“I will not be able to tell you the platform they have settled for. When they announce it, they will let you know. There is no need for us to be in a hurry.
“My message to Nigerians is this: I have always said — take a look at your kitchen and compare it to where it was before. Then you will know that you need to make a decision to make Nigeria better.”
Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, declined to respond, stating that he did not represent the movement.
He said, “I can’t speak on matters like this. I don’t speak for the coalition movement.”
Attempts by our correspondent to get a confirmation or denial from Paul Mumeh, media aide to former Senate President David Mark, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered nor returned our correspondent’s calls.
But a credible source close to the former Senate President revealed that he might have agreed to lead the coalition.
The source stated, “Yes, that may be true. But wait until next week for official confirmation.”
In response, APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, stated that the ruling party’s candidate would triumph over any coalition in the 2027 elections.
Speaking to our correspondent, Ibrahim declared that the coalition’s mission to unseat President Tinubu was doomed from the start.
He stated, “You see, in my language, Hausa, there is an adage: ‘What the elder sees while sitting, the young cannot see even while standing’. The fact that Aregbesola and the other man turned down the offer given to them says that the mission is dead on arrival.
“So, there is nothing to worry about. In fact, ADC is not a platform that can fly. These people are making efforts, but their efforts will be in vain, and it will not in any way threaten or frighten the APC that is progressing.
“We are not worried about their shenanigans. We are not worried about what they are doing because we are confident that people are going to vote for us come 2027. We are delivering; we are giving dividends of democracy, and we will continue to do so regardless of whatever efforts the coalition makes.
“We welcome their efforts because it will only give us the strength and the stamina to repeat what was done in 2023. We have beaten them before. Beating them again will not be a problem.”
