Atiku, Peter Obi, El-Rufai adopt ADC as official opposition coalition platform

In a major political realignment ahead of Nigeria’s next electoral cycle, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai have formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the official platform for their emerging opposition coalition.

Authoritative sources confirmed that the decision was finalized during a closed-door meeting held Tuesday night, which extended into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The development marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, potentially uniting prominent figures from different ideological backgrounds under one banner.

An insider with direct knowledge of the meeting, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, revealed that the alliance is no longer speculative.

“They have adopted the African Democratic Congress as the coalition’s political vehicle. Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai are working together. All the major stakeholders were present at the meeting,” the source disclosed.

The meeting reportedly resulted in the establishment of several committees tasked with finalizing the coalition’s structure, policy alignment, and strategy—preparatory steps for a formal public unveiling.

READ ALSO: 2027 Coaliton: Atiku/Obi’s negotiation faces crisis of uncertainty of consensus building

“Politicians often meet when the rest of the country is asleep,” the source added. “But effectively, as we speak, the coalition has been born. The conclusion was reached at that meeting.”

While no specific date has been set for the formal announcement of the coalition to the public, the source indicated that the unveiling will occur in the near future.

“There is no fixed date yet, but it will happen very soon,” the insider confirmed. The decision by Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai to converge on a common political platform reflects growing dissatisfaction with the current state of national affairs and a strategic bid to present a united opposition front in future elections.

Observers note that the formation of such a coalition—uniting key players from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and former allies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—could reshape political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The ADC, which has traditionally played a minor role in national elections, could now serve as a springboard for a formidable political movement aiming to challenge the dominance of the ruling party.

Analysts say the coming weeks will be critical as the coalition outlines its leadership structure, policy direction, and electoral strategy.

If successfully unveiled and unified in vision, the alliance between Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai could represent the most cohesive opposition front Nigeria has seen in years.