• Say, PDP, APC Bigwigs enlisting in New Party
• PDP Govs: “We Are Not Joining Any Coalition”
By Abiola Olawale
As the race towards 2027 hots up, opposition political heavyweights including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi; two-term governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi; two-term governor of Osun State Rauf Aregbesola; two-term governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, at the weekend kick-started a mass mobilization under their newly formed All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The New Diplomat’s checks show that these topshots began a mobilization campaign at the weekend across the six geopolitical zones in its bid to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The New Diplomat’s findings reveal that the group is already holding crucial Zonal meetings.
Investigations further reveal that the group held a crucial meeting in Ilorin Kwara state at the weekend just as it also had a similar one in Lafia, Nassarawa State.
Recall that on June 19, 2025, the National Coalition Group (NNCG) had formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ADA’s registration, with Chief Akin A. Ricketts as its interim national chairman and Abdullahi Musa Elayo as pro-tem national secretary, respectively.
The party’s slogan is “Justice for All,” saying it stands for inclusion, accountability, and true federalism.
Meanwhile, an insider who spoke with The New Diplomat disclosed that the ADA’s leadership wasted no time in kicking off its nationwide mobilization efforts and moves to rally Nigerians behind their vision.
“Our mission is clear: to unite progressives and deliver a government that serves the people,” the source who is a top member of the proposed new party added.
The source added that the party’s leadership is working round the clock to secure INEC’s registration and establish operational structure as quickly as possible.
Already, the party has constituted a 15-member committee chaired by Amaechi tasked with laying the groundwork, the source revealed.
“The leadership of the new party has already hit the ground running. We have no time to waste, APC has been in power for the past 10 years and we have to work hard to beat them in 2027,” the source added.
Another source who spoke to The New Diplomat also revealed that the ADA’s motive is to appeal to Nigerians through its diverse and influential roster of founders.
The New Diplomat gathered that there are already ongoing talks among key political figures in both the North and South, and that many political heavyweights from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), APC, and Labour Party have already enlisted as members of ADA in principle.
According to the source, alongside Atiku, Obi, Amaechi, Aregbesola, El-Rufai, and David Mark, prominent individuals like former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, ex-APC National Chairman John Oyegun, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, have all joined the new party.
“The ADA represents a fresh start for Nigeria. It’s a platform where true democrats can thrive,” a prominent member of the ADA said.
However, despite speculations that some PDP chieftains might join the new party, the PDP Governors in April had declared that they are not joining any coalition.
