By Charles Pemu 
Key opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-governors Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai have intensified nationwide mobilisation under the proposed All Democratic Alliance (ADA), amid efforts to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Despite submitting an application for party registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the coalition remains divided on strategy.
While some leaders remain optimistic about INEC’s approval, others led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, have ruled out the viability of registering a new party before the next general elections. Lawal confirmed that the main bloc of the anti-Tinubu coalition has opted to merge with an existing party, citing legal constraints and time limitations.
“We’ve concluded that we are joining an existing party. The time is too short to register and stabilise a new one before 2027,” Lawal stated, adding that key leadership positions are already being reorganised to accommodate the coalition.
Lawal also distanced the main coalition from a splinter faction led by Dr. Umar Ardo, which is pushing forward with the ADA registration, accusing the group of misrepresenting the involvement of political heavyweights like Atiku, Peter Obi, and others.
Despite the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) publicly ruling out a merger, insiders say aggrieved members from PDP, APC, and the Labour Party are being courted as likely defectors, especially if internal crises erupt during party primaries.
“There’s a strong likelihood that fallouts from nomination battles in APC and PDP will benefit us, “We’re strategically positioned to welcome disenchanted aspirants.”
The coalition has begun consultations across the six geopolitical zones and says it aims to provide a credible and competitive alternative in 2027.
With the political temperature rising, analysts say a well-organised coalition could significantly disrupt Nigeria’s traditional two-party dominance.