As Nigeria heads toward the high-stakes 2027 general elections, political tension continues to build following the formation of a new party by a coalition of opposition leaders. But in a surprising turn, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has distanced himself from the newly proposed party — the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
While reports earlier suggested that Atiku and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai were the driving force behind the coalition that submitted ADA’s registration request to INEC, Atiku’s media aide, AbdulRasheed Shehu, has issued a firm clarification: Atiku has not endorsed the ADA as the coalition’s political vehicle—at least, not yet.
Shehu explained that although a group has moved to register ADA with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), several internal matters within the coalition remain unresolved.
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Inside the ADA Move: What We Know So Far
According to The Nation, the application for ADA’s registration was submitted on June 19, addressed to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. The submission was co-signed by Akin Ricketts, the party’s national chairman, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo, serving as protem national secretary. INEC officially received the application on June 20.
However, Atiku’s team insists the broader coalition—which includes other political heavyweights—has not finalized its party choice.
“Shehu clearly stated on social media platform X that while some groups are pushing for ADA, no official decision has been made by the coalition,” a source close to the former VP said.
Opposition Gears Up to Challenge Tinubu
Atiku has consistently advocated for a strong opposition alliance to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election. Since April, he’s been meeting with major political players like Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Babachir Lawal, David Mark, and others.
Among the coalition’s recent moves was a private visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, seen as part of broader consultation efforts.
Despite reports suggesting ADA as the vehicle for this alliance, Shehu slammed the media for creating confusion. “When the time is right, the public will be informed,” he said.
A Deeper Concern: Nigeria’s Democratic Crisis
In a related development, Reverend Jerry Nwachukwu, a respected cleric from Anambra, has warned that INEC, the judiciary, and the security forces remain the biggest barriers to credible elections in Nigeria.
He argued that unless these institutions reform, no coalition—no matter how strong—can truly challenge the system.
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