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Dumebi Kachikwu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has raised serious concerns over the newly formed opposition coalition, accusing it of being strategically engineered to produce former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Kachikwu alleged that the faction of the ADC now led by former Senate President David Mark had no genuine national agenda other than to return power to the north through Atiku.
He claimed that during a meeting he held with key coalition leaders, they made it clear that their singular objective was to reclaim political control, without regard for equity, national balance, or internal party democracy.
“In that meeting, they told me point blank that their goal was to take power back,” Kachikwu said. “It was never about building a credible alternative or addressing the failures of the current administration. It was all about Atiku Abubakar, and that is the plain truth.”
The new political coalition—which has ignited widespread national debate—was formally unveiled in Abuja on March 20, 2025, as a bold attempt by prominent opposition figures to form a unified front against President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 elections.
The coalition includes notable political leaders such as Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Although most of these political figures have not officially joined the ADC, they have publicly pledged allegiance to the party, which is now under interim leadership. David Mark has taken over as national chairman, while former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola has been named national secretary, following the resignation of former leaders like Ralph Nwosu.
However, in a swift and strongly worded reaction, Kachikwu released a statement on Wednesday, condemning the move as a hostile takeover. He accused Atiku, Obi, and their allies of hijacking the party for their personal ambitions, despite lacking the moral authority or leadership competence to drive genuine change.
Recounting how he was initially invited to join the coalition talks, Kachikwu narrated, “Late last year, they approached me. I was hesitant at first, but early this year, a close friend persuaded me to attend a meeting with them.
“The gathering included former ministers and prominent figures from past administrations. All they spoke about was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—how he had failed Nigeria and why a coalition was urgently needed.”
According to him, their arguments lacked depth and were solely focused on seizing power rather than presenting a concrete roadmap for national development.
“But I asked them one simple question,” Kachikwu said. “Since President Buhari, a northerner, just completed eight years, and President Tinubu from the South is in his first term, would the coalition agree that power should remain in the South to complete a balanced second term? Their answer was immediate and unambiguous: ‘We are taking our power back.’”
He described their response as a clear confirmation that the coalition was built around northern political dominance and not around the principles of fairness or national unity.
He found their posture dismissive and unacceptable, especially given his own standing as a former presidential candidate of a nationally recognized party.
Kachikwu continued, “I was the presidential candidate of a party that came fifth in the last election. Now you’re telling me that simply because I’m from the South, I must bury my ambitions. You’re asking me to concede that northern dominance should resume immediately, sidelining the South.”
He criticized the old political order for perpetuating a system based on regional and ethnic power rotation without true regard for merit or equity.
Asserting his position unequivocally, Kachikwu challenged the coalition leaders to publicly commit to zoning the 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
“If you want to be taken seriously, then declare—loudly and clearly—that your presidential candidate in 2027 will come from the southern region of Nigeria,” he said. “Only then can we have a real conversation. Only then can we welcome you into the fold through the front door.”
He concluded by reaffirming his belief that unless this coalition makes such a categorical declaration, it will remain nothing more than a political arrangement designed to return Atiku Abubakar to power—an outcome he believes is detrimental to both equity and the country’s democratic progress.