2027: ADC Distances Itself from Zoning Debate, Focuses on Grassroots Mobilization and Political Reform
With political realignments intensifying ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it is not preoccupied with the contentious issue of zoning. Instead, the party says its priority lies in building a credible, grassroots-based political alternative that challenges the status quo.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC is determined to reshape Nigeria’s political system by prioritizing merit, national interest, and issue-based politics over traditional regional 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 stated. “But we are not fixated on the presidency as though it were the only prize worth winning. That kind of thinking is part of what has led to the political dysfunction we see today.”
He emphasized that the ADC is more concerned with building lasting structures at all levels of government and reconnecting politics to communities. “A party cannot be something built on nothing. We must first build the structure. Our emphasis now is on readiness, organization, and credibility,” he added.
Abdullahi was critical of Nigeria’s dominant political parties, accusing them of deepening ethnic and regional divides through zoning and power-sharing practices. “We are not fixated on power for its own sake. Our interest is not just in changing the occupants of political offices, but in transforming how politics is done in Nigeria,” he said.
Drawing a distinction between the ADC and legacy parties, Abdullahi described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a coalition formed solely for the purpose of dislodging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, with little ideological cohesion. “Take power away from the APC and you will find there is little holding it together—no clear ideology, no distinct vision,” he argued.
He said the ADC represents a deliberate and necessary intervention, born out of a recognition that Nigeria was drifting toward one-party dominance and devoid of meaningful opposition. “Functionally, the APC has governed without checks, and the PDP has struggled to offer coherent alternatives. For 10 years, Nigerians have been without a viable opposition—until now,” he noted.
According to Abdullahi, since the coalition of opposition groups adopted the ADC on July 2, the party has been offering “bold and issue-based engagement” with the ruling party. “The ADC is not just here to oppose; we are here to present a better way of doing politics—focused, principled, and people-driven,” he said.
On grassroots efforts, he pointed to growing momentum across the country. “Real political change doesn’t begin in high offices; it starts at the grassroots. In the South-East and South-South, we have credible political leaders and organizers doing the hard work. In the South-West, the turnout in Ekiti and the support is drawing in Osun show something is stirring,” Abdullahi explained.
He concluded by saying the ADC’s mission is to offer Nigerians a true alternative. “We are challenging the idea that opposition politics must be noisy or reactionary. Ours is a politics of ideas, of solutions, of national renewal,” he said.
Coalition Still Pursuing ADA Registration — Ardo
Meanwhile, Dr. Umar Ardo, Secretary of the coalition’s Sub-Committee on the Feasibility of the Registration of a New Political Party, has denied reports that the opposition coalition has abandoned its push to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
Responding to speculation that the coalition had shifted focus entirely to the ADC, Ardo clarified that the coalition is pursuing a dual-track strategy. “Yes, the ADC is there, but we are not abandoning our application for the registration of ADA,” he said.
He acknowledged that the coalition’s decision to appoint Senator David Mark as ADC chairman may have caused confusion, giving the impression that the ADC alone represents the entire coalition.
“Our application is still undergoing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s process. I believe we will have clarity by next week,” Ardo said.
He cited INEC’s recent announcement of its new political party registration portal, saying the coalition remains confident in ADA’s approval. “There’s no doubt that Nigerians are tired of the maladministration of the Bola Tinubu administration,” he added.
According to Ardo, the decision to register a new party was not merely tactical but strategic—an outcome of a feasibility committee chaired by former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. “It is a bold move that will redefine the opposition’s purpose, unite stakeholders, and mobilize public sentiment. It’s about creating an authentic alternative to entrenched political forces and inspiring national hope,” he said.
