The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that its leading presidential aspirants: Peter Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi are collaborating with the common aim of preventing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from returning to power in 2027.
This was as the main opposition party launched a strategic group known as, “One ADC Movement” to mobilise its members and Nigerians across age groups, social backgrounds and political interests as it prepares to challenge the ruling party in the next presidential race.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, national coordinator of the group, Lauretta Onochie said the movement will ensure that supporters of Obi, Atiku and Amaechi are able to work together as a team to confront the APC in 2027. She urged them to strengthen their unity, saying division will not bring the desired results.
She said, “Across Nigeria today, our people are watching the political space with hope, with expectation, and sometimes with concern. Nigerians are asking an important question: Can political parties rise above internal divisions and truly serve the people?
“Our answer today is yes.The One ADC Movement is built on a simple but powerful principle — that unity is the greatest strength of any political party.
“A political party is not merely an election platform. It is a community. It is a family. It is a gathering of people who believe that together they can build something stronger than themselves.
“But like every family, there will be debates. There will be contests. There will be disagreements. That is the nature of democracy. What matters is what happens after those moments.
“The Movement is created to strengthen the bonds within the African Democratic Congress, to encourage reconciliation where there are disagreements, and to remind every member that our collective future is greater than any individual ambition” Onochie said.
In his remarks, a former national chairman of ADC, Raph Nwosu said rather than keep complaining, the opposition coalition through avenues like the movement, provides Nigerians the alternative platform to dislodge APC in 2027.
“We don’t want to continue to complain. We have decided we will oblige the Nigerian citizens to own the ADC so that there will be no more complaining. Let everybody take action and the action is, instead of letting Nigeria to die, in 2027, Nigeria must arise and shine.
“In 2027, Nigeria must arise and shine and by the grace of God, now that the citizens of Nigeria have taken over the ADC, it’s not about who is the chairman, secretary, who is that, or no. The leadership of the ADC has been very deliberate.
“They don’t want to stand on anybody’s face.They want the Nigerian citizens to take over the party. David Mark, being a military tactician, a disciplined military tactician, decided, don’t stand in people’s face. Let the people own the party.
“Nigeria is now in ICU. Intensive Care Unit. It’s not just sick.That sickness has taken it to Intensive Care Unit. And all we’re doing by citizen ownership of the party is to repair it so that Nigeria will not die. And in 2027, Nigeria must arise and shine,” he added.
Also speaking, the director of mobilisation, Umar Shuiabu, said after the unveiling the movement will become visible nationwide, and work towards defeating the “corrupt regime” in Nigeria come 2027.
