JUST-IN: Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Amaechi, Others Arrive Yar’Adua Centre For ADC Meeting

Members of the opposition coalition, under the auspices of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have converged at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday afternoon for the unveiling of the party’s new leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The high-powered gathering included the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi; former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; and former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Also in attendance were former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung; former federal lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye; publisher and PDP chieftain, Chief Dele Momodu; Senator Gabriel Suswam; and Labour Party Senator, Ireti Kingibe.

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, and a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.), were also present. Politicians from across the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and LP were spotted at the venue, fueling speculations of a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A major highlight of the event was the announcement that the opposition coalition has formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.

The coalition named former Senate President David Mark as the interim national chairman of the realigned ADC. Mark, a founding member of the PDP, has now officially resigned from the party to lead the coalition.

In a surprising twist, the coalition also appointed former Osun State governor and APC stalwart, Rauf Aregbesola, as its interim national secretary, signaling a possible ideological shift and broader realignment of forces.

David Mark, who is expected to lead the conference formally, was said to be arriving shortly with other coalition members to begin the official unveiling of the new movement.

The event is still ongoing as of press time on Wednesday afternoon.