Opposition leaders have appointed former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the interim National Chairman and Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), respectively.
This development follows the adoption of the ADC as the coalition’s platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the 2027 general elections.
Sources privy to the closed-door meeting held on Tuesday night in Abuja revealed that the decision was reached unanimously after extensive deliberations among opposition stakeholders.
A former Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, was also named as the interim National Publicity Secretary of the coalition.
One of the sources disclosed, “Mark and Aregbesola have been appointed as the ADC Interim National Chairman and National Secretary. This will be officially unveiled tomorrow (Wednesday), so we are on track.”
The coalition leaders, including ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, have been working to establish a unified front since March.
Their efforts aim to present a formidable alternative to the ruling APC amidst internal crises in major opposition parties such as the PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, and SDP.
In May, it was reported that the coalition had settled on the ADC as its political vehicle after months of speculation. The decision was confirmed when the ADC’s National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, stepped aside to allow Senator Mark and Aregbesola to assume interim leadership roles.
One of the stakeholders commented on Aregbesola’s change of heart, saying, “You know Aregbesola initially rejected the offer, but he was prevailed upon by stakeholders. He has now agreed to serve in that capacity. This decision strengthens the coalition’s resolve to provide credible leadership.”
Bolaji Abdullahi, tasked with managing the coalition’s public communication, brings political and administrative experience to the interim leadership team. His role is expected to be pivotal in shaping public perception of the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Confirming the new appointments, Kola Ologbondiyan, a former aide to Senator Mark and ex-PDP National Publicity Secretary, tweeted via his verified X account: “African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been adopted as the political party for the coalition. The party has elected Sen. David Mark as the Interim National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the Interim National Secretary.”
