In a significant move in the lead-up to the 2027 Nigerian general elections, former Senate President Senator David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola have been appointed as the interim Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The appointments are part of efforts to create a unified opposition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Multiple reliable sources who were present at the closed-door meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night disclosed that the leadership of the opposition coalition reached a consensus to elect Mark and Aregbesola to these pivotal roles.
These sources, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the meeting, revealed that the ADC will unveil its newly constituted leadership in a formal ceremony scheduled for Wednesday in Abuja.
Further details from the sources confirmed that the former Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, has been appointed as the interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, rounding off the leadership structure.
The ADC’s new leadership is poised to play a key role in the growing coalition aimed at presenting a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming elections.
READ ALSO:
2027: Opposition coalition talks nearing completion – ADC Chair
10,000 LP members decamp to ADC in Kaduna
President Tinubu’s administration has faced a combination of accomplishments and criticisms, with opposition leaders from several parties consistently branding the government’s performance as unsatisfactory.
Notably, many major opposition parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), have been embroiled in internal crises, which has complicated their efforts to form a united opposition.
In response, a group of prominent opposition figures, including ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party leader Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, convened in Abuja on March 20, 2025, to establish a new coalition aimed at challenging the APC. This coalition has since sparked a nationwide conversation on the potential of a united opposition, with various reactions from both political analysts and the general public.
After months of speculation and deliberation over which political platform the coalition would adopt, it was exclusively reported on May 19, 2025, that the group had settled on the ADC as its political vehicle. Subsequent reports confirmed that Senator Mark was selected as the interim chairman of the ADC-led coalition, with a formal unveiling set for Wednesday.
Sources further revealed that Aregbesola, who initially rejected the role of National Secretary, eventually relented after persistent persuasion from coalition stakeholders.
One insider shared, “Aregbesola initially turned down the offer, but after much discussion, he has now accepted to serve in this crucial position.”
Additionally, it was disclosed that the current ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, has stepped aside to allow the new interim leadership under Mark and Aregbesola to take charge of the party’s affairs.
In confirmation of the development, Kola Ologbondiyan, a former aide to Senator Mark and former PDP National Publicity Secretary, took to his verified Twitter account to announce that the ADC had officially been adopted as the platform for the opposition coalition.
“African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been adopted as the political party for the coalition. The party has elected Sen. David Mark as the Interim National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the Interim National Secretary,” Ologbondiyan tweeted.
The unveiling of the new ADC leadership is expected to mark a pivotal moment in the opposition’s strategy for the 2027 elections, and many are watching closely to see how this newly formed alliance will influence the political landscape ahead of the polls.
