With preparations for the 2027 presidential election gathering momentum, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it is not preoccupied with the contentious issue of zoning. Instead, the party says its focus is on building a credible, grassroots-driven political structure that can challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said in an exclusive interview that the ADC intends to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape by prioritising merit, competence, and national interest over power-sharing arrangements.
> “As for 2027, let me be clear: we are building the party to be a serious contender, not just a participant,” Abdullahi said. “We are not fixated on the presidency as if it were the only prize worth winning. That kind of thinking is part of the political dysfunction we see today.
“We are focused on building capacity across all levels — governorships, Senate, House of Representatives, and state assemblies. The presidential ticket will come, but first, we are laying the foundation. A party cannot be something built on nothing. We are building readiness, organisation, and credibility to give Nigerians a real alternative — not just a new name, but a new vision.”
Criticising old politics
Abdullahi criticised the prevailing political culture in Nigeria, accusing the APC and PDP of prioritising zoning and power rotation over competence and national unity. He said the ADC is a “deliberate intervention” aimed at reviving issue-based opposition politics.
“Structurally, the ADC is fundamentally different from the traditional political parties Nigerians are familiar with,” he said. “The APC, for instance, was a coalition of several parties in 2013 with a singular goal of wrestling power from the PDP. It was a merger driven by expediency.
“The ADC, on the other hand, was born out of necessity by a coalition of individuals who recognised that Nigeria was sliding dangerously toward a one-party state. For the past decade, the APC has governed with little meaningful opposition. The PDP has struggled to provide an alternative.
“We are not fixated on power for its own sake. Our goal is to transform the way politics is done — to be focused, principled, and people-driven.”
Grassroots mobilisation
Abdullahi emphasised that the party is prioritising grassroots engagement over high-profile politics, citing recent rallies and mobilisation efforts across the country.
“Real political change does not begin in high offices; it starts at the grassroots,” he noted. “Beyond the profile of Peter Obi, the ADC has credible political organisers in the South-East and South-South who are establishing community-based structures.
“In the South-West, we’ve seen impressive signs — the turnout for our rally in Ekiti on Saturday was not by accident. Look at the momentum Aregbesola generated in Osun recently. Across the country, something is stirring, and the ADC is giving it direction.
“We are challenging the notion that opposition politics must be noisy or reactionary. Ours is a politics of ideas, solutions, and national renewal.”
Coalition not abandoning ADA’s registration bid — Ardo
Meanwhile, Dr Umar Ardo, Secretary of the Sub-Committee on the Feasibility of the Registration of a New Political Party, dismissed speculations that the opposition coalition backing the ADC has abandoned its plan to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The coalition is anchored on a two-pronged approach. Yes, the ADC is there, but we are not abandoning our application for the registration of ADA,” Ardo said.
“Our application is still undergoing INEC’s processes. I believe by next week, we will get clarity. Only last week, INEC announced that it had tested its party registration portal and would inform political associations that pre-qualify to upload their particulars.”
Ardo, who disclosed that the feasibility committee was chaired by former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, said registering ADA remains a strategic move to unite the opposition and provide Nigerians with a credible alternative.
“It is a bold move that will redefine the opposition’s purpose, galvanise public sentiment, and create an authentic alternative to entrenched political forces. Nigerians are tired of the maladministration of the Bola Tinubu administration. We believe ADA will form the government in 2027,” he added.
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