Barring any last-minute change, members of the opposition coalition have concluded plans to dump their various political parties and join their adopted platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Following the coalition’s formal adoption of the ADC on Wednesday, prominent leaders such as former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), announced their exit from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ADC. Their moves followed the earlier resignation of former Senate President David Mark from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before he emerged as interim national chairman of the ADC, alongside former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was named interim national secretary.

However, the delay by other coalition figures—such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Social Democratic Party)—sparked speculation that they may remain in their legacy parties while working behind the scenes for the new platform.

Observers cited the statement made by the ADC interim chairman to suggest that some coalition leaders might be adopting a gradual approach.

“As we proceed this day, we acknowledge the practical implications of imminent by-elections and one state governorship election for some of our coalition partners in their respective legacy political parties. However, all of us remain firmly united under the ADC banner for the 2027 general elections and beyond,” Mark had said in his acceptance speech on Wednesday.

Similarly, a statement issued Thursday by Peter Obi was viewed by some as a sign of hesitation, as it lacked any indication of a formal defection to the ADC.

Obi simply said, “Our commitment is to sacrifice and work together towards the 2027 General Elections, ensuring that Nigeria gets a competent, capable, and compassionate leadership that will prioritise the nation’s future by putting the welfare of Nigerians first.

“This decision was not made lightly. It comes from deep reflection on where we are as a country and what must be done to move forward.

“No one group can change Nigeria alone. To dismantle the structures that keep our people in poverty and insecurity, we must build bridges, not walls—even when those bridges are uneasy.”

His failure to mention resigning from the Labour Party and the subsequent 48-hour ultimatum issued by a factional leadership of the party further reinforced concerns that he, along with others, may be foot-dragging in decamping to the ADC.

But in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust yesterday, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, former Minister of Police Affairs and one of the coalition’s leaders, disclosed that all members have agreed to quit their old parties for the ADC.

“Everyone in the coalition is leaving their respective parties. But we are doing so in accordance with the procedures laid out by our parties,” he said.

Waziri, who still technically remains a member of the PDP and its Board of Trustees, said his departure is only pending completion of the formal exit process.

“I have not defected yet—that’s the second leg. Well, technically, yes, as I speak to you now, I am still in the PDP. Why? Because the PDP has a process one must follow to formally exit the party,” he said.

The Yobe-born founding member of the PDP explained that the party requires members to submit a formal letter of resignation to their ward chairman.

“My ward is about five to seven hours away from here (Abuja). I’m going there tomorrow. But for all intents and purposes, I am no longer in the PDP,” he said.

Asked whether he would be exiting alongside his long-time associate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Waziri replied, “Of course. Everybody in the coalition is exiting his party. But it will be according to the processes of our parties.

“Atiku is expected to go to Jada, Adamawa State, the way I will go to Yobe. I could easily sit here and write a letter and release it to the press that I have exited my party and address it to my ward chairman, saying I’ve left the party.

“But that’s not proper procedure. I’m expected to do what is right, in the best way possible.”

Ihedioha joins ADC as Abure-led LP gives Obi 48-hour ultimatum

In a related development, former Imo State governor Emeka Ihedioha has formally joined the ADC, informing his supporters and political structure of the move.

Addressing leaders of his grassroots-based Rebuild Imo Movement (RIM) at his residence on Thursday, the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives declared, “My party, your party, and our party is now ADC. That is the way to go. That is the party for all of us.”

He urged RIM leaders to return to their respective chapters, wards, local government areas, and zones to begin mobilising for the ADC as a truly people-oriented party.

“I urge you, as leaders of our Rebuild Imo Movement (RIM), to go home to your respective chapters, wards, LGAs, and zones and take this gospel to the grassroots, to the people. We are people-oriented. Our strength is the people—the masses. We already have representation in all the booths in the 305 wards in the state, and our structure across the 27 LGAs and three geopolitical zones is strong, viable, and functional. Just go home and invigorate our RIM structure, which is highly effective and superb,” he said.

“I must thank all of you here, and those who are not here, for your steadfastness, support, and patience. I commend the DG (Director General) of our RIM structure for his administrative ingenuity. I appreciate all the state executive members of our structure—the zonal, LGA, and ward leaders. You all have been wonderful. I also use this opportunity to thank our state women leader, Lady Ijeoma Domike, in appreciating all our women. I equally acknowledge our youths for their diligence and dedication. Together, we shall triumph.”

Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to resign his membership over his involvement in the opposition coalition’s adoption of the ADC.

The faction accused Obi of anti-party activities for associating with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, among others, during the unveiling of the ADC in Abuja as the platform for the new coalition aiming to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obi was also accused of holding clandestine meetings with party members to persuade them to defect.

“Peter Gregory Obi has received a 48-hour ultimatum to formally resign his membership of the Labour Party, having officially joined the coalition. The Labour Party is not part of this arrangement and disassociates itself from its agenda,” the faction’s spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, said in a statement.

However, the Labour Party faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman dismissed the ultimatum as baseless, describing the Abure-led group as political impostors without legal standing.

In a counterstatement issued by her aide, Ken Asogwa, Senator Usman reaffirmed the party’s endorsement of Obi’s coalition involvement.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the leadership of the Labour Party, on May 26, 2025, publicly declared its full support for Mr. Obi’s involvement in the coalition efforts aimed at creating a robust political alternative to rescue Nigeria from the disastrous misrule of the APC. That position has not changed,” the statement read.

The Usman-led faction further stated that Abure and his allies had been removed from office by the Supreme Court and suspended from the party over allegations of indiscipline and disloyalty.

“It is the remnants of the disorder and mess left behind by these impostors that the current leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman continues to clean up.

“Therefore, members of the public—and especially the media—are urged to disregard the distractions and mischief from these discredited elements,” the statement added.

Amaechi hints at 2027 presidential bid, to publish certificates, health records

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has hinted at a possible presidential bid in 2027 on the platform of the ADC, stating he would publish his academic credentials and medical records to demonstrate his capacity to lead Nigeria.

Amaechi, 60, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, stopped short of declaring his ambition, citing an internal agreement within the newly formed political coalition.

“The answer would have been an outright yes,” he said. “But what did we agree on in the coalition? Everybody should keep aside his ambition. Let’s first get the platform; let’s build the platform before you come out with the idea of running for presidency.

“You won’t get a direct yes because that would be annoying the coalition.”

The former Rivers State governor said he would begin publishing personal documents in the coming weeks to assure Nigerians of his fitness and credibility.

He said leaders unfit to govern should not contest for office, stressing that he would release his health records to prove his readiness.

“I will publish my state of health to reassure Nigerians that if I’m made president, I will not go to hospitals—because I hardly go to hospitals. I just go for check-ups. If I’m in bad health, I won’t contest,” he added.

“I walk 23–24 kilometres a day, four times a week. Yesterday, we ran 16 kilometres and walked many more. My staff complains every day. My doctor begs me.”

Amaechi emphasised that the coalition’s ultimate goal is not merely to remove President Bola Tinubu or unseat the APC, but to form a people-centred government that would build a better Nigeria.

He said insecurity in the country is driven largely by poverty and hunger, arguing that feeding the poor would be a top priority for any serious administration.

“You can’t clear insecurity if the economy is down,” he said. “The greatest cause of insecurity is poverty; it’s hunger. So if we’re not able to provide food, then insecurity will continue.”

Asked if he would serve only one term if elected, Amaechi responded, “Of course. And Nigerians can trust that.

“If I would do more than four years, I would say I would do more than four years.”

He also revealed plans to retire from active politics by age 70, saying it would be time for the younger generation to take over.

APC tackles coalition leaders

For its part, the ruling APC on Thursday reacted to criticisms against the Tinubu administration by leaders of the new opposition coalition, describing their remarks as “stitches of untruths, diatribe, and regurgitated and baseless allegations.”

During his address at the coalition’s unveiling on Wednesday, ADC interim national chairman David Mark had slammed the Tinubu-led government for failing to tackle insecurity, hunger, poverty, corruption, and other pressing issues.

Responding in a statement, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka said, “It was an unveiling of a coalition of hoaxers and self-obsessed merchants of vendetta.”

The statement continued: “From beginning to end, Senator Mark said nothing about the purpose of the so-called coalition other than a loud declaration of desperation for power. What value does the coalition bring to Nigerians?

“Why should any Nigerian be concerned about a coalition of egotistical maniacs for whom power and patronage are the oxygen on which their lives depend?

“One would have expected that, after months of vacillating between the devil and the deep blue sea in search of a host platform, Senator Mark and his co-travellers would take Nigerians seriously enough to tell them what their coalition would do differently from the administration’s bold economic and sectoral policy reforms.

“What key alternative policies would the coalition implement, and what prospects of success do they have compared to the high-value and transformative impact of the administration’s reforms?

“What exactly is the philosophical or ideological leaning of the coalition or its new party, aside from desperation for power at all costs—by all means necessary and unnecessary?

“Senator Mark’s speech was loud in its silence to these questions because he and his coalition partners are disgracefully clueless, without care or concern for Nigeria and Nigerians—only filled with a wolfish quest for power for their own mendacious ends.

“They must think Nigerians are gullible and uncritical. Quite to the contrary, Nigerians are highly perceptive and discerning and will not be taken in by the coalition’s grand folly.”

The APC listed several achievements of the Tinubu administration, declaring that while coalition leaders are “swimming in mud and throwing bricks,” President Tinubu and the APC remain focused on building “a stronger, enduring, and more prosperous nation for this and future generations.”

We are yet to take any position on coalition – PDP

Meanwhile, the PDP has denied reports that it has directed members to join the newly formed opposition coalition aimed at removing President Tinubu in 2027, saying it has not yet taken a position on the matter.

In a statement, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said the party is currently focused on preparations for its upcoming national convention and consolidating internal unity.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NWC states in clear terms that the PDP has not taken any official position on the issue of coalition,” he said.

“The PDP is for now focused on building and consolidating attained unity and stability and strengthening its structures and capacity to play its role as the leading opposition party determined to return to power in 2027.”

The party added that preparations are underway to ensure a successful national convention, which it said would further reposition the PDP for the electoral challenge ahead.

“Nevertheless, as a major opposition party with a strong presence and bond with Nigerians across the country, the PDP restates that it remains open to working with other well-meaning, like-minded citizens in the collective effort to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the rudderless and insensitive All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.

“Our party appreciates Nigerians for their interest, solidarity, and loyalty to the PDP brand and reassures them that all machineries are being put in place to reactivate the PDP’s winning ways ahead of the 2027 general elections.” (Daily Trust)