The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has said it can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election without forming a broad opposition coalition.
The party said the proposed coalition would have made the contest easier. However, it insisted that its absence would not stop the ADC from winning the election.
According to Daily Post, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Abdullahi was responding to questions about the party’s chances after the opposition coalition failed to develop as initially planned. He explained that the coalition was originally designed to bring several opposition forces together against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
However, the political landscape has changed significantly. Some major figures who were part of the coalition have since moved to the National Democratic Congress, NDC.
They include former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Despite the development, Abdullahi said the ADC remains confident about its chances.
“What I am saying is that we don’t need a coalition to win this election. The African Democratic Congress does not need a coalition to win this election,” he said.
He added that a successful coalition could make the party’s task easier. However, he stressed that it is not necessary for victory. According to Abdullahi, the ADC believes its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, can lead the party to victory on its own.
When asked whether Atiku could secure victory without the opposition coalition, the ADC spokesman responded, “I believe so.” Meanwhile, Abdullahi disclosed that discussions among opposition parties have not completely ended.
He said the focus has now shifted from producing one presidential candidate to identifying areas where the opposition can cooperate. The ADC spokesman mentioned election monitoring as one possible area of cooperation.
He said opposition parties could work together to develop a common system for monitoring the election and protecting votes. According to him, such cooperation could help prevent electoral irregularities during the 2027 polls.
The proposed opposition coalition initially attracted several prominent political figures and groups seeking to challenge the APC. However, disagreements and political realignments later weakened the arrangement.
Obi and Kwankwaso eventually moved to the NDC, where they emerged as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Despite the changes, the ADC has maintained that it remains capable of mounting a strong challenge against Tinubu.
With the 2027 election approaching, the contest is already taking shape around major political blocs. Tinubu is expected to seek another term under the APC, while Atiku will represent the ADC.
Obi, meanwhile, will lead the NDC into the presidential race. The ADC’s latest position suggests that the party is prepared to pursue victory independently while remaining open to strategic cooperation with other opposition groups.
Elom Fortunate Chiemerie is junior staff at modern crux that covers news on international politics, sports news and entertainment News
