David Mark-led opposition coalition applies for registration of new party, All Democratic Alliance

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Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Opposition Coalition Group, comprising major national political figures, including a former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission to register its newly formed political party, All Democratic Alliance.

The group is chaired by a former Senate President, David Mark.

The development followed a meeting of the coalition in Abuja on May 6, 2025, according to a statement by the group dated May 19 and signed by Amaechi and Umar Ardo as the Chairman and Secretary of the New Platform Committee, respectively.

The NPC comprises 15 members mandated to form an association to apply to INEC to register a new political party.

According to the statement, a series of meetings were held, sub-committees were constituted, and reports were submitted to the Committee leading to the meeting and resolutions.

At the meeting of the New Platform Committee held on Thursday, June 19, 2025, the Committee approved the formation of the ADA as a political association and the party’s logo, slogan, and motto.

Also approved were the party manifesto, its constitution, and the appointment of the interim leadership of the party, with Chief Akin A. Ricketts as Protem Chairman, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo as Protem National Secretary.

The coalition also approved the interim leadership of the new political party to secure a befitting office accommodation, open a bank account for the party, upon registration by INEC, for financial transactions, and operate the activities of the party as enshrined in the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act (2022).

There have been growing talks about the possible formation of a coalition, comprising a former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the the People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The spokesman of Atiku in May said his principal and other political heavyweights like Peter Obi, and El-Rufai, were in talks over plans to float a coalition ahead of the 2027 election.

While fielding questions on Channels Television’s Politics Today, confirming speculations of a planned coalition to unseat the ruling APC, he said, “Well, you and I know that there have been ongoing discussions between Atiku Abubakar and some opposition leaders, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai.”

“Yes, it’s out there in the open. Discussion is still ongoing, and at the end of that discussion, they will come out with a position and the direction that we’re going to follow based on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.”

However, the ruling All Progressives Congress said that a coalition against Tinubu in 2027 would fail.