Leaders of the African Democratic Congress said Tuesday that President Bola Tinubu will face a tough re-election battle in 2027, citing worsening insecurity and economic hardship across Nigeria.
Speaking at the party’s national convention in Abuja, former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola said there would be no “easy victory” for Tinubu in the next general elections.
Other opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi,and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi also criticized the administration, describing the security situation as deteriorating and alleging that poverty has worsened.
Aregbesola said Tinubu should consider stepping down over the country’s economic and security challenges, while Mark said the ADC was positioning itself as a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We see this moment as both an opportunity and a responsibility to demonstrate that democracy can deliver a better life,” Mark said, adding that the party would prioritize accountability and adherence to its constitution.
Despite the show of unity at the convention, the ADC remains divided by a leadership crisis that has splintered the party into multiple factions.
A faction led by Nafiu Bala rejected the Abuja convention, calling it illegitimate and saying it would organize a separate convention after a pending Supreme Court ruling.
The party has faced internal disputes since 2025, when a leadership struggle emerged following the tenure of former chairman Ralph Nwosu. The disagreement led to competing claims over the party’s leadership and multiple court cases.
In a related development, a group aligned with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu announced a caretaker committee, further deepening divisions within the party.
The crisis has effectively split the ADC into three factions, raising concerns about its readiness for the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission earlier announced the delisting of some ADC leaders, including Mark and Aregbesola, from its register in compliance with a court order to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute.
Legal battles over the party’s leadership are ongoing at multiple levels of the judiciary. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled April 22, 2026, to hear an appeal filed by Mark challenging earlier rulings.
At the same time, a Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned proceedings in a related suit indefinitely, pending the Supreme Court’s decision on jurisdictional issues.
Another Federal High Court ordered all parties in a separate case to maintain the status quo and refrain from actions that could affect the outcome of the litigation. The case has been adjourned to April 23, 2026.
Despite internal disputes, delegates at the Abuja convention endorsed a National Working Committee led by Mark and adopted a revised party constitution and manifesto.
Party leaders said the ADC would seek to unify its members and present a viable candidate capable of challenging the ruling party in the 2027 elections.
