New Power Bloc Rises: Atiku, Obi, Mark Lead ADC Coalition to Challenge Tinubu in 2027

By RYNI Media: Omotayo Stephen O.
3 July 2025

Abuja—In a dramatic political realignment that could reshape Nigeria’s democratic landscape, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-presidential contender Peter Obi, and former Senate President David Mark have emerged as the front-runners of a formidable coalition set to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has become the unlikely but strategic political vessel for this coalition, officially adopted on Wednesday as the opposition’s unified platform. The high-stakes unveiling, held in Abuja, saw the announcement of David Mark as the interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as Secretary — signaling a cross-party alliance with wide-reaching implications.

This move, orchestrated by leading voices from Nigeria’s fractured opposition landscape, is more than a routine political gambit. It represents a calculated attempt to halt what critics describe as the nation’s slide toward authoritarianism under the current APC-led administration.

“This coalition is not merely about capturing power,” declared Mark during his acceptance speech. “It is about restoring Nigeria’s battered democracy, reawakening its institutions, and giving our people real choices again.”

However, the announcement has not been without turbulence. Dumebi Kachikwu, ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, along with remnants of the party’s old guard, fiercely opposed the move, accusing Atiku and Obi of orchestrating a political takeover. The ruling All Progressives Congress quickly dismissed the development as the desperate cry of “retired politicians clinging to relevance.”

Still, the message from the new bloc was clear: the time for a fragmented opposition is over. Against the backdrop of widespread economic hardship, surging insecurity, and public frustration, the coalition aims to present a credible and united front capable of dislodging Tinubu’s administration at the polls.

Mark condemned the state of the nation under Tinubu’s leadership, citing unchecked executive overreach, a “rubber-stamp” National Assembly, and alarming levels of insecurity and poverty. “This is not governance — this is a government obsessed with power, indifferent to suffering,” he said.

The coalition, now officially flying the ADC flag, says it is not merely targeting the 2027 ballot but is laying the groundwork for a new Nigeria — one of institutional revival, social equity, and democratic accountability.

“This is not just a political coalition; it is a national rescue mission,” said Ralph Nwosu, the ADC’s founding chairman, who stepped aside to enable the transition. “With leaders like Mark and Aregbesola at the helm, we are not just planning an election — we are building a legacy.”

As the countdown to 2027 begins, Nigeria’s political terrain just got a lot more interesting.

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