2027 Countdown: PDP Leaders Align Ahead of ADC Coalition Unveiling

– Prominent political stakeholders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reportedly reached a consensus to support the emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, signalling a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape. At the heart of the realignment is the planned adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the new coalition party to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a report by Daily Sun, the key meeting was held in Abuja on Tuesday, where top PDP leaders—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal—gathered to fine-tune arrangements for what is shaping up to be a formidable opposition bloc.

The closed-door session was chaired by David Mark and attended by a host of influential figures within the PDP, including former Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), and Sule Lamido (Jigawa). Other attendees included former Minister of Police Affairs Waziri Maina, Senators Abdul Ningi and Tunde Ogbeha, and former Minister of External Affairs Chief Tom Ikimi.

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Consensus on ADC as Coalition Platform

Sources privy to the meeting disclosed that the leaders reached a harmonised position to formally back the ADC as the platform for the united opposition in the 2027 elections. The decision, insiders say, was borne out of mounting frustration over the PDP’s internal crises and its diminishing capacity to provide a cohesive challenge to the APC at the federal level.

The planned coalition—comprising not just PDP veterans but also figures from other opposition parties like the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party—is expected to be formally unveiled in the coming weeks.

“This meeting was not just a brainstorming session—it was a strategic alignment,” one of the attendees told Daily Sun. “We have resolved that the PDP, as it currently stands, is no longer viable for the kind of national rebirth we are working towards. The ADC presents a new beginning.”

Cracks Within PDP Deepen

While the PDP leadership has yet to officially respond to the coalition plans, Tuesday’s meeting highlighted a growing rift within the party. A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) who was present at the meeting confirmed that many leaders are now viewing the PDP as a spent force incapable of winning the 2027 elections on its own.

“The PDP governors and leaders opposing the coalition are simply speaking for themselves,” he said. “Some of them are already publicly backing the APC. What action has the party taken against them? None. Meanwhile, those of us committed to salvaging Nigeria are uniting around a new political idea.”

He further stated that while many of them would remain in the PDP for now, their real loyalty lies with the coalition’s goals. “We’re not leaving the PDP, but our hearts and our political capital are now with the coalition. Anyone who still wants to contest 2027 under the PDP banner is free to waste their money.”

A New Political Equation for 2027

The move to adopt the ADC as the coalition’s vehicle comes after months of speculation and political manoeuvring. Earlier reports indicated that various opposition leaders—including Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and others—had been in talks to forge a united front against the APC, which continues to face criticism over economic hardship, insecurity, and policy failures under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The coalition seeks to offer a people-centered, ideology-driven alternative, with a shared commitment to democratic values, national unity, and economic revival. The coalition’s backers believe that the ADC—an existing, registered party with no baggage from past federal power struggles—offers a clean slate for credible and collective action.

With figures like Atiku and Mark now publicly aligning with the coalition’s strategy, political analysts suggest that 2027 could usher in a new era of multi-party collaboration and realignment in Nigeria.

Next Steps and Implications

The formal unveiling of the coalition under the ADC is expected to take place in the coming days, with a rollout of its structure, leadership framework, and roadmap for engaging Nigerians across all six geopolitical zones.

While some PDP loyalists may attempt to resist the shift, observers say the writing is on the wall: a significant faction of the PDP elite has now pivoted toward a new political vehicle, raising questions about the party’s cohesion and electoral chances moving forward.

If the coalition succeeds in maintaining unity and galvanising public support, the 2027 elections could become one of the most competitive in Nigeria’s recent history.