Who Will Wear The Crown?: Opposition Coalition Surges as Seven(7) Presidential Aspirants Emerge on ADC Platform

 

A major political realignment is gaining traction ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) emerges as the primary platform for a growing coalition of opposition forces. Ralph Nwosu, former National Chairman of the ADC, has revealed that no fewer than seven high-profile figures are being propelled by their supporters to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next presidential race.

The development comes amid intense behind-the-scenes consultations involving influential political leaders, civil society groups, and citizens disillusioned with the current state of governance in Nigeria. The coalition, according to Nwosu, is forging an inclusive, transparent structure that will allow for an open and democratic selection process for its presidential candidate.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, Nwosu noted that the coalition has coalesced around the ADC as its operational vehicle, signaling a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape. The choice of platform was finalized during a strategic meeting on Wednesday, which brought together key stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi.

Nwosu disclosed that apart from Obi and Atiku, the list of potential candidates includes former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), as well as the 2023 ADC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Dr Ganiyu Bamidele Ajadi. Additionally, former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, is also being considered by some factions within the movement.

“People are expressing their preferences openly. That’s the essence of democracy,” Nwosu explained. “There are camps backing Aregbesola, just as others are calling for Ajadi to step forward. Supporters of Amaechi, Atiku, and Obi are all active. El-Rufai is also making his moves quietly, and Lamido has thrown his hat in the ring. This diversity of ambition and ideas is what makes this coalition a serious force.”

He emphasized that the coalition was not built on ego or personality worship but on a shared desire to rescue Nigeria from what he described as a state of political and socio-economic paralysis. “We are not just here to win power for its own sake. This coalition is a rescue mission. Our country is on life support, and this new alliance aims to revive it and restore its dignity,” he said.

The former ADC chairman added that internal mechanisms are already in place to ensure a credible selection process for the coalition’s presidential flagbearer. The openness of the system, he said, will allow any interested candidate to present their vision and rally support without imposition or favoritism.

As conversations among key players continue, a groundswell of support appears to be building in favor of the coalition. Nwosu noted that significant defections are already reshaping Nigeria’s political map. According to him, 95 percent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structures and grassroots machinery have migrated into the ADC-led coalition. He further claimed that more than 35 percent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and over 80 percent of Labour Party supporters have also aligned with the movement.

“These numbers reflect a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo. People are voting with their feet, leaving the traditional parties and joining us because they believe in a new vision for Nigeria,” he said. “We are forming something bigger than any party that has ever existed in this country.”

The coalition's leaders insist that the movement is about more than political office or power plays. According to Nwosu, the real objective is to build a nation that works for everyone and repositions Nigeria as a leading force on the African continent.

“This is the beginning of something transformative. The coalition is not just about 2027. It’s about creating a new foundation that future generations can build upon. It is about Nigeria reclaiming its place in the world,” he concluded.

The road to 2027 is still long, but the early signs point to an intense and potentially groundbreaking political contest. As the opposition coalition gathers momentum, all eyes will be on how it manages its internal dynamics and whether it can present a unified front strong enough to challenge the incumbent.