2027: ADC, Turaki-led PDP faction meet in Abuja as opposition weighs alliance options -

Isaac Samuel

Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting in Abuja, amid growing indications of a possible opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, which took place at the residence of former Senate President, David Mark, in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory, followed a solidarity visit by PDP leaders to the ADC over what both parties described as increasing political pressure on opposition platforms.

The development also comes hours after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Mark led a protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over recent developments affecting party leadership.

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A large number of political heavyweights across party lines were seen arriving at the venue, signalling deepening consultations that could shape the configuration of opposition politics in the coming electoral cycle.

Prominent among those present are former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Others include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Also in attendance are factional PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu; as well as ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and his PDP counterpart, Ini Ememobong.

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In a statement issued after the engagement, the PDP said its leadership paid a solidarity visit to the ADC in response to what it described as “recent political attacks targeted at Nigeria’s opposition parties.”

The party noted that both the PDP and ADC face a growing and shared threat, stressing the need for vigilance against actions capable of undermining democratic principles and political plurality.

The PDP delegation included Makinde, Turaki, Wabara, Gana, Aliyu, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, General Ishaya Bamayi, Rt. Hon. Fred Agbedi, and Ememobong.

They were received by ADC leaders, including Atiku, Mark, Kashim Imam, Kwankwaso, Tambuwal, Tunde Ogbeha, Obi, Liyel Imoke, Rauf Aregbesola, Amaechi, and Abdullahi.

ALSO READ ADC woos Jonathan as Mark, Atiku insist on primaries Isaac Samuel The race to the 2027 presidency took a dramatic turn this week as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified efforts to lure former President Goodluck Jonathan into its fold. Jonathan, it was gathered is also taking decisive moves to reset opposition strategy and mount a formidable challenge against President Bola Tinubu. The former President held a closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Thursday with ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark. Jonathan, who publicly met with politicians and party leaders for the first time since his rumoured bid to return to power, met the ADC stakeholders at the home of Mark. Seen in a viral video as he walked into the expansive residence of the former Senate President in Abuja, others with Mark were former Minister of Sports and ADC spokesperson, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi as well as a former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, among others. Sources claimed the former president has begun consultations ahead of the 2027 polls following increasing pressure to get in the ring and ‘save’ the nation. But it was learnt that the former President's bid to return to Aso Rock on the platform of the opposition coalition may have hit an early stumbling block. At Thursday’s meeting, Mark was said to have told the former president in clear terms that the only path to the party’s presidential ticket was through the front door by formally joining the party and submitting himself to a transparent primary election. Unable to secure any guarantees, Jonathan and Mark agreed to meet again soon to review the situation. It was learnt that the ADC is moving to draft Jonathan into the race beccause he is seen as a compromise candidate, but his strong base used to be the South-East which is now the political fortress of Obi. But Jonathan is not alone in seeking assurances. Both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are also pressing the ADC leadership for firm commitments before they take the plunge. The party’s new leadership, however, has refused to make such promises, a development that explains why all three leading contenders are still holding back from declaring for the party. For them, early commitment without certainty could prove politically fatal. Aligning with the ADC and then losing its ticket could leave any of the trio stranded and without a viable political vehicle ahead of 2027. Obi has consistently insisted that power must remain in the South for equity, even pledging to serve a single term if elected. But his camp remains opposed to any vice-presidential offer, warning that such a move would be politically suicidal after his strong showing in 2023. For Atiku, who resigned from the PDP in July, the plan is to complete ongoing grassroots mobilisation before formally collecting his ADC membership card in Adamawa. While Atiku insists he is ready for an open primary, his increasing influence within ADC backed by significant political investments is fuelling fears that the presidential ticket may already be tilted in his favour. That dynamic, party figures say, could force Jonathan and Obi to reconsider their strategies. Meanwhile, the ADC leadership is trying to project unity. After a caucus meeting in Abuja attended by Mark, Atiku, former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal and Rotimi Amaechi, the party directed all undecided members to resign from their existing parties. Peter Obi, a member of the coalition party, had yet to disclaim his membership of Labour Party (LP). Atiku is also yet to get his ADC membership even though he has resigned from PDP. National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed the new directive while addressing journalists in Abuja, after a caucus meeting attended by top party leaders and political figures. Abdullahi said, “Though final order has been given to all members to resign membership of other political parties, the caucus was silent on the timeline.” The caucus also announced that all issues concerning African Democratic Association (ADA) had been concluded. According to Abdullahi, “The coalition has rested everything concerning the ADA. That means they are not interested in the registration or otherwise of the association.” On the 2027 presidential race, Abdullahi said ADC’s presidential aspirants had agreed to back whoever emerged winner of the primaries. “All the presidential aspirants have agreed to support whoever wins the primaries election,” he stated. The ADC spokesman further revealed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) would soon announce dates for primaries in Osun and Ekiti states ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections in both states. Those present at the meeting included National Chairman, David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; and former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

Responding, ADC leaders expressed appreciation for the visit and warned of what they described as an existential threat to democracy, particularly through attempts to weaken opposition parties.

Both sides affirmed the need for sustained engagement to defend democratic institutions.

Although details of the closed-door deliberations were not disclosed, the convergence of key opposition figures across political divides has heightened speculation about a possible merger or strategic alliance.