July 03, (THEWILL) — The Presidency has stated that the newly formed opposition coalition is a fragile alliance held together only by a common resentment for President Bola Tinubu, rather than shared vision or ideology.
THEWILL reports that the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement in Nigeria, on Wednesday, unveiled the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
The event attracted politicians from major political parties, including the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They include Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the LP in 2023, Rauf Aregbesola, former minister of interior, Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto, former Senate President, David Mark, Akeem Baba-Ahmed, Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation and Solomon Dalung, ex-minister of sports, and Odigie Oyegun.
Others were Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine, Eyinnanya Abaribe, Gabriel Suswan, Ireti Kingibe, Elisha Abbo, Uche Secondus, Tunde Ogbeha and Victor Umeh, Laureata Onochie, Liyel Imoke, Bolaji Abdullahi, among others.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed that many of the coalition members have long distanced themselves from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and are merely using the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform to regain political relevance.
Onanuga warned that the coalition’s lack of a unifying ideology or agenda will make it unsustainable, arguing that its members are motivated not by the national interest but by a desperation to escape political obscurity.
Urging Nigerians to be vigilant, Onanuga said, “A political party with no clear agenda or ideology—whose members are united only by their hatred for President Tinubu—cannot be good for our country. It will only set us back by decades.
“These politicians are desperados, hungry for power, not for the benefit of Nigerians but for themselves. They want power at all costs because they cannot endure another four years in the political wilderness or be banished to political winter and irrelevance.
“What is certain is that the group will soon unravel due to their irreconcilable personal ambitions.”
On his part, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, compared the new coalition (ADC) to the 2013 political alliance that birthed the APC.
Titled “This Is Not 2013: Why the ADC Coalition Can’t Mirror the APC”, Dare said the merger that birthed the APC in 2013 was driven by selflessness, national interest, and strategic discipline.
According to Dare, “The leaders at the time were willing to set aside personal ambitions for the greater good. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite commanding the loyalty of several sitting governors, chose to wait. He bided his time, played the long game, and focused on building a viable political platform. He had never lost an election, and he didn’t have to force his way in.
“Now contrast that with today’s coalition. The chief promoter is a serial election loser, clutching at what he clearly sees as his last shot at the presidency. Unlike Tinubu, he enters the coalition alone—without the backing of his state governor, his region, or any meaningful political structure. His ambition is personal, not patriotic. So, also that of his many co-travellers.
“In 2013, the APC had a rallying figure in Muhammadu Buhari—a man seen as a symbol of integrity, and a national unifier with cult-like grassroots appeal. Today, no one in this coalition commands that kind of loyalty or trust. Not one of them could genuinely unite a ward, let alone a country. No one comes close to parading the democratic credentials of President Bola Tinubu.
“Most importantly, the APC coalition emerged to address real grievances: the constitutional denial of power to a region that had been unfairly sidelined and to end the 16 years of ruinous governance by the PDP. It was a coalition grounded in justice and balance.
“This new coalition? It’s purely opportunistic. The presidency already rests with the region rightfully due. And that’s where it will be till 2031.
“Heads up for Nigerians about ADC – There is no injustice to redress—only avarice ambition to satisfy.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
