By Ghazali Ibrahim
A major political realignment may be on the horizon ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, as a strong coalition comprising Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and other high-profile politicians has taken a bold step toward forming a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The coalition, which evolved from the Nigeria National Coalition Group (NNCG), submitted a formal application to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on June 20, 2025, seeking registration of ADA as a political party.
The application included the party’s proposed name, logo, constitution, manifesto, and its official slogan: “Justice for All.”
Prominent figures involved in the coalition include former Senate President David Mark, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and Dr. Umar Ardo, among others.
David Mark is serving as the interim chairman of the emerging party, while Amaechi reportedly led the committee that recommended the formation of a fresh political platform after internal disagreements over adopting an existing one.
Initially, the group explored the possibility of aligning with existing parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
However, the decision to start afresh was reached in order to ensure what insiders describe as a “level playing field” for all stakeholders and to avoid structural dominance by any faction.
The move signals a significant political shift, bringing together former rivals from across Nigeria’s political spectrum — from PDP heavyweight Atiku Abubakar, to Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former APC governor Nasir El-Rufai — under a unified agenda.
INEC is yet to approve the registration, as the Commission continues its review of dozens of pending political party applications.
However, political observers say the emergence of ADA backed by some of the most recognizable names in Nigerian politics could reshape the country’s political landscape and pose a serious challenge to traditional power blocs ahead of the 2027 polls.
