Abuja, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is at the heart of Nigeria’s fast-evolving political landscape, following a major coalition of opposition leaders that includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. In a dramatic turn of events, the ADC’s official website crashed three times within 48 hours, overwhelmed by a surge of Nigerians eager to join what is being touted as a new political movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The crash, confirmed by Atiku’s aide Demola Olarewaju, highlights growing public interest in the opposition realignment, which seeks to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “Nigerians have been waiting for an alternative to the APC,” Olarewaju wrote on social media. “And it’s already gaining traction.”
Atiku Slams Wike’s Pulpit Speech
Meanwhile, tensions flared when Atiku Abubakar publicly rebuked FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for allegedly turning a church pulpit into a political campaign platform. Wike’s remarks at St. James Anglican Church in Abuja drew sharp condemnation from Atiku, who labeled the act “a desecration of the altar” and “an abomination before God and man.”
Atiku accused Wike of using the sacred platform to spread “vengeance and arrogance” and further alleged that Wike had been involved in illegal land allocations in Abuja, branding his governance style as “a feudal monarchy masquerading as public service.”
ADC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Sabotage Plot
In a separate development, the ADC has raised an alarm over what it described as a coordinated plot by elements within the Tinubu administration to destabilize the opposition movement. The party alleges that federal officials summoned key ADC stakeholders from the North East and North West to secret meetings aimed at weakening the coalition.
“This is not politics. This is sabotage,” said Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary. The party warned that any attempts to hijack or delegitimize its leadership would be resisted.
Tensions Within and Outside the Coalition
Political tensions escalated further with internal debates about regional inclusivity. Former APC spokesperson Timi Frank cautioned against excluding any region from the presidential nomination process, warning it could fracture the coalition. “We need a president for all Nigerians — not just for the North or South,” he stated.
Meanwhile, APC loyalists dismissed the coalition’s momentum. Farouk Aliyu, a senior APC member, described the group as “a gathering of disgruntled politicians” and insisted it posed no real threat. “These are the same people who were once with us. There’s no ideological difference,” he told ARISE News.
Ebonyi and Ondo Youths Push Back
Back in the Southeast, APC’s Ebonyi chapter chairman, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, dismissed the coalition’s influence in the state, citing the popularity of Governor Francis Nwifuru as a major barrier to opposition inroads.
Similarly, youth groups in Ondo State under the Akoko Youth Intellectual Movement called the ADC-led coalition “bound to fail,” criticizing its leaders for lacking genuine political weight.
Legal Trouble for ADC’s Interim Leadership
Amid the coalition’s rise, its structure faces internal legal scrutiny. Three ADC members filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the legitimacy of the interim national leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark. The plaintiffs argue the appointments violated the ADC constitution and call for the court to declare the leadership unlawful.
The court is yet to fix a date for hearing the case.
Former SGF Dumps APC
Adding to the political shake-up, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babachir Lawal, officially resigned from the APC, signaling a shift in allegiance. While Lawal has not declared his next political move, he is widely seen as a strategic player in the ADC coalition.
