In a significant political realignment, the African Democratic Congress and the National Conscience Party have formed a coalition with the declared aim of challenging the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The alliance was formally announced at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, where leaders of both opposition parties heavily criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress, citing worsening economic hardship, rising poverty, and growing insecurity under the current government.
Chief Fatai Ibu-Owo, the Lagos State Chairman of the NCP, addressed the media, stating, “We stand here today not as politicians seeking applause, but as Nigerians whose heart is bleeding. We rise with an unyielding resolve to declare our unequivocal opposition to the Bola Tinubu-led APC regime.”
He was joined by the ADC National Secretary and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, alongside other party officials and civil society representatives.
The coalition presented data to support its claims of national decline. It argued that despite reported GDP growth, the figures fail to outpace population growth or inflation, meaning “most Nigerians are poorer in real terms.”
They pinpointed the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023 as a primary catalyst for suffering, noting that petrol prices have skyrocketed by 428% in 17 months, from ₦238 per litre to ₦1,239 by April 2025. This, they said, has crippled transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing, while inflation has surged, with food inflation remaining stubbornly above 40% in many regions.
On security, the alliance decried a continued deterioration, citing increased kidnappings, rural banditry, and alleged abuses of civil liberties. They claimed that over 614,000 lives were lost to violence between May 2023 and April 2024.
“The APC’s policies have failed to deliver progress, worsened inequality and deepened poverty. We must reject this trajectory and reclaim our destiny,” the groups stated.
The NCP Lagos State Coordinating Council had formally endorsed the electoral coalition with the ADC at its September 11 meeting. Expressing confidence in their prospects, the groups stated that voters, particularly in Lagos, are ready for an alternative political direction.
In a bold closing remark, Ibu-Owo issued a direct challenge to the presidency: “To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we say: begin preparing your handover notes. The ADC–NCP alliance will democratically reclaim power in 2027.”
The National Conscience Party was founded in 1994 by the late rights activist Chief Gani Fawehinmi, while the ADC was established in 2005. This coalition builds on the ADC’s earlier announcement in July of a platform to challenge Tinubu, which has attracted several prominent opposition figures.
Discussion about this post