- A major faction within the ADC rejected the opposition coalition’s adoption of the party, condemning the move as undemocratic and lacking proper consultation
- The faction’s spokesperson, Musa Isa Matara, warned that political elites were attempting to hijack the ADC without involving grassroots members or party leadership
- Despite the coalition naming new interim leaders and adopting the ADC as its platform, the faction declared the appointments illegitimate and not ratified by party structures
A major faction within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly rejected the adoption of the party as the political platform for a newly formed opposition coalition, accusing political elites of attempting to hijack the party without proper consultation.
In a strongly worded statement released by Musa Isa Matara, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, the group described the move as an “imposed arrangement” and warned that the ADC is not a private vehicle for elite negotiations or backdoor political deals.
Matara condemned the reported decision made at a high-level meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, where a coalition of opposition leaders and some ADC members announced their intention to use the ADC as the platform for a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully. Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain,” the statement read.
“The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”
According to the faction, the decision to align the party with the opposition coalition was made without consulting key structures of the ADC, including state executives, youth and women leaders, and ward coordinators across the country.
Matara emphasised that the ADC welcomes strategic alliances, but insisted such collaborations must be built on transparency, inclusiveness, and respect for party democracy. He warned that bypassing the grassroots and sidelining the party’s constitutional leadership amounted to a violation of democratic principles.
Tuesday’s meeting in Abuja reportedly included prominent opposition figures such as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, former governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Liyel Imoke (Cross River), as well as former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus.
Following the meeting, the coalition announced the adoption of the ADC as its political platform. It also named David Mark as interim national chairman and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim secretary. Former sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi was unveiled as the coalition’s spokesperson.
But Matara dismissed the appointments as illegitimate and unauthorised, insisting that no such decisions had been ratified by the ADC’s National Executive Committee or approved through any national convention.
“The claim that the ADC has become the ‘platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group’ is misleading,” the statement said. “Our millions of members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition.”
He added: “If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.”
Matara also pointed out that the ADC is currently grappling with unresolved internal legal disputes dating back to the 2023 general elections, warning that any coalition built on such unstable legal ground would be both irresponsible and dangerous.
“Let it be known to those who are trooping into our party under this chaotic coalition arrangement that the ADC has been battling unresolved legal crises since the 2023 general elections,” he said. “These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive.”
The statement underscores rising tensions within the opposition alliance and casts uncertainty over the viability of using the ADC as a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election cycle.
