Abuja, Nigeria – In a major political shake-up ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, have been named Interim National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

 

The appointments were made during a high-level meeting held Tuesday night in Abuja, where key figures in the opposition coalition unanimously endorsed the duo to lead the party’s newly restructured leadership.

 

Reliable sources who attended the closed-door session confirmed the development but requested anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak publicly. According to the sources, former Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, has also been appointed as the interim National Publicity Secretary of the party.

 

The African Democratic Congress, long considered a fringe player in national politics, has now been adopted as the official platform for the emerging coalition of opposition forces determined to unseat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

 

The formal unveiling of the new ADC leadership is scheduled for Wednesday in Abuja.

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The latest development follows months of negotiations and behind-the-scenes consultations among opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The group had first convened publicly on March 20 to chart a new course toward a united political front.

 

While President Tinubu’s administration has recorded a mix of achievements and challenges, opposition figures have continued to criticize the APC-led government, calling it a failure across several sectors. Meanwhile, internal conflicts have plagued major opposition parties such as the PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, and SDP—prompting renewed urgency for coalition building.

 

The selection of the ADC as the coalition’s political vehicle was first reported by The PUNCH on May 19. Party insiders confirmed that the current ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, had agreed to step aside to allow Mark and Aregbesola to assume interim leadership roles.

 

Sources added that Aregbesola, who initially declined the position, eventually accepted after pressure from key stakeholders.

 

Confirming the announcement, former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated via his verified X account:

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“African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been adopted as the political party for the coalition. The party has elected Sen. David Mark as the Interim National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the Interim National Secretary.”

The move is expected to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, as the coalition ramps up preparations for a high-stakes battle in the 2027 elections.