Politics
2027 Election: List of Prominent Former APC, PDP, LP Members Who Have Joined ADC Coalition
A major alliance has been formed against the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria
Prominent chieftains of the APC, PDP, and Labour Party (LP) dumped their parties for the newly-adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC)
The opposition coalition movement led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently adopted the ADC as the platform to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
While the coalition is still solidifying its structure, influential figures who have confirmed their involvement in the movement include:
Atiku Abubakar
A former Vice President and PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections is a central figure in the coalition, signalling another possible shot at the presidency for the fourth time.
David Mark
David Mark, a former Senate President, has become the interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after following his resignation from his membership in the PDP. As a Senator, David Mark represented Benue South senatorial district from 1999 to 2019 and served as the 12th President of the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2015.
Before his senatorial career, Mark was the military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986 and also served as a Minister of Communication. He is recognised as the longest-serving President of the Nigerian Senate.
Prince Uche Secondus
A former National Chairman of the PDP is also reportedly involved in this strategic alliance for 2027. Secondus was acting chairman of the committee from 2015 to 2016. He became the chairman and a member of the PDP National Working Committee in 2017 and managed the party affairs until 2021, when he was suspended by the party.
Secondus was the second chairman of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, a position he held for two terms.
Aminu Tambuwal
A former Governor of Sokoto State and currently a senator under the platform of the PDP. Tambuwal served as the 12th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2011 to 2015 and as the governor of Sokoto State from 2015 to 2023.
Tambuwal represented the Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency of Sokoto State as an honourable member in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2015, and is currently a serving Senator for Sokoto South since 2023.
Liyel Imoke
As a former Governor of Cross River State, Imoke served from 29 May 2007 till 29 May 2015. He was also a cabinet minister and leader of Parliament in the former Eastern Region.
In 1992, Liyel Imoke was elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the age of 30 during the transition government of Ibrahim Babangida. His term ended in November 1993 when the military regime led by General Sani Abacha dissolved the government.
Babangida Aliyu
Aliyu is a two-term former Governor of Niger State — elected in 2007 and was reelected in 2011. In the March 2015 presidential and senatorial elections, Aliyu failed in his senate race against David Umaru of the APC, who obtained 149,443 votes against his 46,459 votes.
Sule Lamido
Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, was part of the PDP stakeholders, led by Atiku, who attended a coalition meeting on Tuesday. He expressed his willingness to support any democratic efforts by patriotic Nigerians aimed at removing Tinubu, but affirmed his commitment to remain in the PDP.
Sam Egwu
As a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Egwu’s tenure lasted from 1999 to 2007. From 2008 to 2010, he served as the Minister of Education and in 2015, he successfully ran for the senatorial seat representing the Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Currently, he is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry.
Emeka Ihedioha
He served as governor of Imo State from 2019 until 14 January 2020, when he was removed from office by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which declared the APC candidate, Hope Uzodinma, the authentic winner of the 2019 gubernatorial election. Ihedioha also served as the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2011 to 2015.
The former deputy speaker was spotted at the unveiling of the ADC coalition in Abuja on Wednesday.
Senator Gabriel Suswam
A former Governor of Benue State, he served from 2007 to 2015. Prior to that, he was a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. He also represented the Benue North-East Senatorial District in the 9th Senate. In 2025, Suswam lost the senatorial seat election to the APC candidate.
The former governor and ex-lawmaker was spotted at the unveiling of the ADC coalition in Abuja on Wednesday.
Dino Melaye
Melaye is a former senator and member of the House of Representatives, and also a member of the People’s Democratic Party. In 2015, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but returned to the PDP in the build-up to the 2019 elections after months of political struggle with Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello. He was one of the campaign spokespersons of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and lost the governorship election in 2023.
Dele Momodu
A prominent PDP chieftain and veteran journalist who has openly criticised the current administration and predicted shifts within the ruling party.
He has declared full support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, warning President Tinubu against endangering Nigeria’s democracy in pursuit of a second term.
Rauf Aregbesola
The former Governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and the immediate past Minister of Interior, who served from 2019 to 2023. He has been appointed the interim National Secretary of the ADC, marking a high-profile defection from the ruling APC. He was a political son and close ally of President Tinubu. He served as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Tinubu’s government in Lagos State.
Nasir El-Rufai
The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State served from 2015 to 2023 and joined the coalition after facing recent political challenges within the APC, which he left for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) earlier this year. He had served as minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 and was also a director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises.
Rotimi Amaechi
As a former Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and immediate past Minister of Transportation who worked under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Amaechi is also aligning with the new opposition coalition and of the leading figures in the movement.
He was Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili and served as Rivers State’s Secretary of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) caretaker committee during the transition programme of Sani Abacha. Ameachi was a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007. He was the Chairman of Nigeria’s Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies.
John Oyegun
Oyegun was the first national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He served as the executive governor of Edo State between 1992 and 1993. Oyegun led the APC to victory in 2015, defeating the then-ruling PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan. This marked the first time an incumbent president and a ruling party were defeated in a presidential election in Nigeria.
He was spotted at the unveiling of the ADC coalition in Abuja on Wednesday.
Abubakar Malami
Malami is the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, who worked under Buhari from 2015 to 2023. He was actively involved in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, serving as the resource person for the Manifesto Drafting Sub-Committee of the Inter-Joint Party Merger Committees. This collaboration included his former party, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
In 2014, Abubakar contested for the governorship ticket of the APC in Kebbi State but later stepped down during the party primaries in favour of Atiku Bagudu.
He resigned from the APC on Wednesday, before being spotted during the unveiling of the ADC as a coalition to unseat Tinubu.
Solomon Dalung
Dalung served as the Minister of Youth and Sports of Nigeria from November 2015 to 2019.
The former minister was spotted at the unveiling of the ADC coalition in Abuja on Wednesday.
Peter Obi
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections is a key member of the coalition and was reported to have proposed a single four-year term to the movement, if considered to be its presidential standard bearer for the 2027 elections. The two-term former governor of Anambra State was Atiku’s running mate in the 2019 general elections.
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed
Baba-Ahmed, a former senator representing the Kaduna North Senatorial District in 2011. He also represented Zaria in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. A member of the Labour Party, Baba-Ahmed was the vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, alongside Peter Obi.
Senator Ireti Kingibe
Kingibe was elected a member of the Senate representing the FCT in the 2023 Nigerian Senate elections under the Labour Party. The lawmaker was spotted during the unveiling of the ADC as a coalition to unseat Tinubu.
Victor Umeh
Umeh was the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and now Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 10th Nigeria National Assembly on the platform of the Labour Party.
The lawmaker was also spotted during the unveiling of the ADC as a coalition to unseat Tinubu.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the Acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, has elected Mao Ohabunwa as the chairman of its new board of trustees (BoT).
Ohabunwa was elected on Friday after a meeting at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister’s official residence in Abuja.
At the event, Isah Dansidi emerged as the secretary of the board.
Speaking during the inauguration, Abdulrahman said the move was to restore true values to the party and regain public trust.
The PDP chairman said: “We have come together not merely to inaugurate a new board of trustees but to renew our faith in the ideals that gave birth to this great political family — justice, fairness, inclusivity, and respect for the rule of law”.
According to him, recent developments in the party, such as internal challenges and disputes, have set the party off from the very principles that formed it.
“We must also be honest with ourselves – the decay we are correcting today did not start yesterday. It began when we abandoned the principle of zoning before the 2015 elections. It began when we allowed ambition to override equity, and when we ignored the cries of reason from within our own ranks. The consequences of those decisions still haunt us today,” he said.
“I stand before you to assure every member of this great party that under this new leadership, the PDP will never again be held hostage by impunity, manipulation, or disregard for its own constitution.
“We will rebuild this party with transparency. We will respect court judgments and the rule of law. We will conduct our congresses with fairness and integrity. We will restore public trust and make the PDP once again the moral voice of Nigeria’s democracy.”
He vowed to reposition the party and bring peace.
At the meeting were PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyawu, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, among others
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally acknowledged receipt of the resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suspending four of its top national officers, including the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Others suspended are the National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (retd.); the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN); and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha.
Naija News reports that the development was contained in a communiqué issued on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) held in Abuja.
According to the party, INEC was officially notified through a letter conveying the NWC’s resolution from its 608th emergency meeting, where the affected officers were sanctioned over alleged anti-party activities.
The letter, signed by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum, and other top officials, stated that the suspensions were made in line with Sections 57(3), 58(1)(a)(b)(c)(h) and 59(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution, suspends the following national officers from the party:
“Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary
“Hon. Umar Bature – National Organising Secretary
“Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) – National Legal Adviser
“Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser.
The above-named officers are consequently suspended for one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action,” the letter read.
The commission was also informed that during the period of suspension, the affected officials “shall cease to function in their respective capacities.”
In the interim, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. (Arc.) Setonji Koshoedo, has been directed to serve as Acting National Secretary, in accordance with Section 36(2) of the party’s constitution.
Similarly, the National Director of Legal Services and the National Director of Organisation have been assigned to oversee the operations of their respective departments until further notice.
The letter addressed to INEC read, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 608th emergency meeting considered the continued anti-party activities of some National Officers despite the formal reprimand issued by the Party.
The NWC, pursuant to the provisions of Section 57(3), 58 (1XaX(b\{c) and (h) and 59 (1) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (POP) (As Amended in 2017) suspends the following National Officers from the Party. 1. Senator Samuel Anyanwu – National Secretary 2. Hon. Umar Bature – National Organizing Secretary 3. Barr. Kamaideen Ajibade – National Legal Adviser, 4. Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha – Deputy National Legal Adviser, The above-name National Officers are consequently suspended for a period of one month and referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action. During the period of the suspension, the affected officers cease to function in their respective capacities.
Pursuant to Section 36(2) of the POP Constitution, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo shall forthwith act as the National Secretary while the National Director of Legal Services and National Director of Organization are hereby directed to oversee the activities of their respective Directorate.
“While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept thee assurances of the National Working Committee’s highest regards,” the PDP said in the letter signed by Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum National Chairman, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman, Hon. Arch. Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary and Hon. Yayari Ahmed, National Treasurer and Dr. Woyengikuro Ambrose Daniel, National Financial Secretary.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has alleged that ex-US President Barack Obama, plotted his defeat in 2015.
Jonathan made this allegation in his new book, ‘My Transition Hours’ due to launch on Tuesday.
He said Obama displayed an unusual level of bias during the 2015 elections, describing him as overbearing and ‘condescending’ in his message to Nigerians ahead of the 2015 general election.
According to Jonathan, “On March 23, 2015, President Obama himself took the unusual step of releasing a video message directly to Nigerians, all but telling them how to vote.”
Giving the details in the book, Jonathan said, “In that video, Obama urged Nigerians to open the ‘next chapter’ by their votes.
“Those who understood subliminal language deciphered that he was prodding the electorate to vote for the opposition to form a new government.”
According to Premium Times, which obtained a copy of the book hours before its unveiling in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan had kept the book secret in order to avoid excerpts of it being published ahead of its formal launch.
DAILY POST recalls that Jonathan lost the 2015 elections to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, marking the first time an incumbent president would lose reelection.
He assumed office in 2010 following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, getting his own mandate of four years at the 2011 presidential election.
“The message was so condescending, it was as if Nigerians did not know what to do and needed an Obama to direct them,” Jonathan said of the video message.
He lampooned Obama, who was American president from 2009 until 2017, for saying all Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear but was reluctant to allow the Nigerian security forces drive Boko Haram insurgents away from the Nigerian territories they had been occupying in order to free Nigerian citizens there ahead of elections.
Jonathan also took a harsh aim at former US Secretary of State, John Kerry, saying the diplomat was nonchalant in his attitude towards his government, despite all efforts to make him understand that the decision to postpone election was in the overall interest of Nigeria.
“How can the U.S. Secretary of State know what is more important for Nigeria than Nigeria’s own government? How could they have expected us to conduct elections when Boko Haram controlled part of the Northeast and were killing and maiming Nigerians?
“Not even the assurance of the sanctity of May 29, 2015 handover date could calm them down. In Nigeria, the Constitution is very clear: No President can extend his tenure by one day,” Jonathan said.
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