2027: Inside ADC’s Battle for Control Ahead of Coalition Talks

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is grappling with an intensifying internal leadership dispute as the party positions itself as a potential home for opposition coalition efforts ahead of the 2027 general election.

Tensions within the party have centred on disagreements over its leadership structure, with a faction pushing for a court-ordered review of the party chairmanship, even as other members work to present a unified front to attract defectors from rival parties ahead of the election cycle.

The infighting comes at a delicate moment for the ADC, which has been positioning itself as a rallying point for opposition figures dissatisfied with the current leadership of both the PDP and other opposition parties. Recent weeks have seen a steady trickle of defections from state-level politicians into the ADC’s ranks.

Party insiders say the leadership question must be resolved before the ADC can credibly present a unified national ticket, with some members warning that prolonged internal wrangling could undermine the coalition’s appeal to undecided voters and potential defectors.

The dispute also comes as other opposition coalition talks continue in parallel, with some political observers questioning whether Nigeria’s fragmented opposition landscape can consolidate into a single credible challenge to the ruling APC by the time of the 2027 polls.

Party leaders have not publicly confirmed a timeline for resolving the leadership dispute, though pressure is mounting from within the party’s ranks to settle the matter well ahead of the formal primary season.