Former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has revealed that at least seven prominent figures within the opposition coalition are being urged by their supporters to contest the 2027 presidential election against incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking, Nwosu disclosed that the movement, which recently adopted the ADC as its political platform, is attracting significant interest from key political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The coalition is gaining momentum as discontent grows within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with notable defections reported.
According to Nwosu, the presidential hopefuls include Obi, Atiku, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola, former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, and Bamidele Ajadi, the ADC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Oyo State.
“There are some people who want Aregbesola to run. There are also people rooting for Ajadi, Amaechi, Atiku, and El-Rufai. Even Sule Lamido is also in the mix,” Nwosu said.
“This tells you it is free, and that is democracy. But the selection process will be open and transparent.”
He stressed that the movement would not impose a candidate but rather adopt an inclusive, democratic approach to choosing its flagbearer. He also dismissed speculations suggesting northern blocs were pushing for a one-term deal for Obi, asserting that internal discussions are ongoing and open to all.
“The coalition is beyond politics and power. It is about rescuing Nigeria from ICU to global reckoning,” he said, adding that the coalition’s strength lies in its collective vision for national rebirth.
Nwosu also claimed that the coalition has drawn significant defection from major parties, alleging that 95% of PDP members and 35% of APC members have joined the ADC-led coalition. He further claimed that 80% of the Labour Party’s structure is now aligning with the movement.
“This is a big coalition. What we’ve built in a short time is bigger than any political party in Nigeria,” he declared.
With the ADC now adopted as the opposition’s official platform, the race to determine who will lead the coalition into the 2027 general election is likely to intensify in the months ahead.
