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 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a letter submitted by the Samuel Anyanwu faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the correspondence “failed to meet the requirements of the law.”
According to The Nation, the letter, jointly signed by Abdulrahaman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, had sought the postponement of the Ekiti Governorship Primary scheduled for November 8, 2025.
The faction claimed that “logistical reasons” made it impossible to conduct the exercise as planned.
In the letter dated November 6, 2025, titled “Postponement of PDP Ekiti State Congress/Governorship Primary,” the faction told the commission that a new date would be communicated.
Part of the letter read, “We wish to inform you that the PDP Ekiti State Congress and Governorship primary scheduled for November 8, 2025, has been postponed due to logistical reasons constraining this exercise… Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Despite the request, the PDP went ahead with the primary on November 8, with Dr. Wole Oluyede emerging winner after polling 279 votes to defeat Funso Agent (239 votes) and Funmilayo Ogun (17 votes).
In its response dated November 10, 2025, and addressed to the PDP National Secretary under reference number INEC/DEPM/PDF/286/94, INEC declared the request invalid.
The letter, signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran Anthony, stated that the notice did not comply with the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
The letter reads, “The Commission draws your attention that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of Part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, which provides that ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit the same to the Commission.’ Be guided.
The Commission hereby informs you that it has rejected your submission for non-compliance with the requirements of the Electoral Act.”
The commission’s firm position effectively invalidates Abdulrahaman Mohammed’s claim to be acting national chairman of the PDP.
Tension At Wadata Plaza As Rival PDP Factions Storm Secretariat Amid Heavy Security
There is heightened tension at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abuja, as two rival factions claiming leadership of the party moved to hold parallel meetings at the same venue.
Heavily armed security operatives cordoned off major sections around Wadata Plaza on Tuesday, anticipating clashes between loyalists of Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the newly elected National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki.
Members of the Anyanwu-led National Working Committee were the first to arrive at the secretariat on Tuesday morning.
Speaking to journalists shortly after settling into his office, Anyanwu declared that he remains the substantive National Secretary of the party until December, stressing that no leadership announcement or convention outcome could invalidate his tenure.
He brushed aside reports of his expulsion by the Turaki group, insisting that due process had not been followed.
Responding to questions about whether he had invited the security operatives stationed outside the premises, Anyanwu confirmed that he had.
According to him, it is standard practice for the PDP to request the presence of security agencies whenever major party meetings are scheduled.
He added that the security operatives were also positioned to handle any “intruders,” a comment widely interpreted as a warning to the Turaki-led exco, which had also summoned its own emergency meeting at the same national headquarters.
The Turaki-led leadership had, on Monday, written to the police to alert them of what they described as plans by expelled officers to disrupt activities at the party secretariat.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected Kabiru Turaki (SAN), the former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as its new national chairman at its ongoing national convention.
Turaki’s emergence at the convention, which was being held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, where delegates from 17 states in the country cast their votes to elect national officers.
The new PDP national chairman was a minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
At the ongoing convention, the party had earlier announced the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike. The PDP suspended Wike, along with the former governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, and the former national secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu.
The motion for the expulsion of the party leaders was moved by Olabode George, the former national vice chairman of the PDP. His motion was supported by Samaila Burga, the PDP chairman in Bauchi state.
Others who were expelled included the PDP’s national legal adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), AbdulRahman Mohammed, George Turner, Dan Orbih, Umar Bature, Austin Nwachukwu, Mao Chuambuwa, and Abraham Ammah.
However, the expulsion of Wike and others has been rejected by the PDP have been rejected by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and Caleb Mutfwang of Adamawa and Plateau states.
Governor Mutfwang, in a statement, distanced himself from the motion seeking the expulsion of the PDP leaders. Mutfwang, through his director of press and public affairs, Gyang Bere, said that the development did not reflect his position.
According to Vanguard, the governor explained that the motion was never discussed at the PDP governor’s forum, nor was it tabled at the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. He stressed that such a move would be counter-productive as the PDP was trying to be stabilized and that the expulsion could further polarize the party rather than uniting it.
Also, Adamawa Governor Fintiri distanced himself from the expulsion of Wike, adding that he strongly believes that the decision was not in the best interest of the PDP and that such a decision would further polarize the party.
Governor Fintiri reiterated that he remains a faithful PDP member and that he would not be part of anything that would further polarize the party. He added that “I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party.”
BREAKING: Court Sentences Nnamdi Kanu To Life Imprisonment
Just In: FG Urges Court To Impose Death Sentence On Nnamdi Kanu
Court Finally Delivers Judgement In Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Case
-
News1 day agoJudge Declares Nnamdi Kanu An ‘International Terrorist’
-
News1 day agoNAF Launch Fresh Airstrikes On Terrorists Hideout In Sambisa Forest
-
News1 day agoCourt Finally Delivers Judgement In Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Case
-
News1 day agoJust In: FG Urges Court To Impose Death Sentence On Nnamdi Kanu
-
News1 day agoBREAKING: Court Sentences Nnamdi Kanu To Life Imprisonment