The opposition leaders, under the banner of the Nigerian National Coalition Group, have adopted the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) and applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register it as a party ahead of the 2027 election.
The coalition’s application letter, dated June 19, 2025, and addressed to the INEC chairman, as obtained by LEADERSHIP Weekend, was co-signed by the national chairman of ADA, Chief Akin Ricketts, and the pro tem national secretary, Abdullahi Musa Elayo.
The letter was stamped received by the office of the INEC chairman on June 20 this year.
The letter had the title: “Application For Registration As A Political Party”, and had the ADA name and flag at its top.
Its logo reads “Justice For All,” and its party colours are green, blue, and red, with corn as its symbol.
The group’s letter read: “We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, as a political party. This is sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration.”
The group also said it attached its manifesto, encapsulating details of its ideology; its constitution which provides the legal framework that defines its identity, structures and the regulations of its affairs and guidelines, in alignment with Sections 40 and 222 of the Constitution, section 75 of the Electoral Act (2022) and global democratic principles and objectives.
They also forwarded the minutes of their recent meeting to the commission.
The coalition movement, a collection of opposition leaders drawn from the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party, as well as disgruntled members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is spearheaded by former vice president Atiku Abubakar who in 2023 urged opposition parties and leaders to form a coalition against President Bola Tinubu’s APC in the 2027 election.
Other key figures in the movement are former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai; former minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi; former minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola; former Senate President David Mark; former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former minister of justice, Abubakar Malami; and former secretary-general to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal, among others.
Before deciding to register the ADA, the coalition considered fusing or adopting an existing political party.
While the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were seen as likely platforms to fuse into, other interests within the coalition argued for the registration of a new party to avoid the crisis of battling for structure within existing parties.
They had expressed concern over the happenings in parties like the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), which has been bogged down by rifts over control of party structures.
Meanwhile, some coalition members, like Amaechi, had accused INEC of refusing to recognise applications from political associations seeking to become parties ahead of the 2027 election.
The main opposition PDP and the Labour Party have repeatedly distanced themselves from the coalition arrangement.
Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, El-Rufai, Others Take Charge Of Regional Structures
However, LEADERSHIP Weekend had exclusively reported that as part of measures to firm up regional bases, top leaders of the coalition have been assigned to lead operations in their various geo-political zones.
LEADERSHIP Weekend had also gathered that the party platform for the coalition might be formally unveiled next week.
According to a source close to the operation, Atiku will be in charge of the North East zone, David Mark will head the North Central zone, and El-Rufai will head the North West zone.
In the South, Peter Obi will lead the South East zone, Chibuike Amaechi will head the South South zone while Rauf Aregbesola will head the South West zone.
The source, however, said the postings would be subject to further work and authorisation.
How They Settled For ADA
The emergence of the ADA was a journey that started with the formation of the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG), chaired by David Mark.
The NOCG met on May 6, 2025, and set up a 15-member New Platform Committee to form an association and apply to INEC for registration of a new political party.
A series of meetings were held, subcommittees were constituted, and reports were submitted to the Platform Committee.
According to extracts of the coalition’s meeting last Thursday, the New Platform Committee, chaired by Amaechi, with Dr Umar Ardo as secretary, approved the formation of ADA as a political association and its application to INEC for registration as a political party.
While they approved the party logo, slogan and motto, manifesto, and Constitution, they also approved the appointment of the interim leadership of the party with Chief Akin A. Ricketts as pro tem national chairman and Abdullahi Musa Elayo as pro tem national secretary.
They approved for the interim leadership of the new political party (ADA) to secure a befitting office accommodation, facilitate the registration of the party with INEC and, when successful, open a bank account for the party for financial transactions.
It will also operate the party’s activities as enshrined in the party’s Constitution and the Electoral Act (2022).
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