ADC Welcomes Kwankwaso, woos wider coalition against APC

Nigeria’s opposition politics may be entering a new and dramatic phase following the defection of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move party leaders say could ignite a broad national coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a strongly worded welcome, David Mark, ADC National Chairman and former Senate President, declared that Kwankwaso’s arrival — along with millions of his supporters from the Kwankwasiyya movement — signals the birth of what he described as a new political force determined to challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mark described the development as a “defining moment” for Nigeria’s democracy, saying the opposition must unite to prevent what he warned could become a gradual slide toward a one-party state.

Addressing supporters, he said the decision by Kwankwaso to join the ADC went beyond ordinary party politics and reflected a growing call among Nigerians for opposition leaders to close ranks and present a common front.

Read also: Kwankwaso dumps NNPP, signals political realignment ahead of 2027

“Your coming to the ADC is not merely a political statement,” Mark said. “It is a deliberate response to the call by Nigerians who want opposition leaders to unite and protect our democracy.”

The ADC chairman accused the ruling party of attempting to weaken opposition politics and concentrate political power, warning that the country’s multiparty democracy could be at risk if political competition continues to shrink.

“At a time when Nigeria should be strengthening her democracy, we are witnessing a dangerous drift to weaken opposition,” he said. “Nigerians must have a choice. Participation is the lifeblood of democracy.”

Mark declared that the ADC now intends to position itself as the rallying platform for a broad national movement driven by inclusion, accountability and people-centred governance.

The party, he said, would open its doors to other political parties, civil society groups and youth movements willing to form a united coalition aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.

“This is a movement whose time has come,” he said, urging Nigerians across ethnic, religious and regional divides to rally behind the emerging alliance.

Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate and one of the most influential political figures in northern Nigeria, commands a large grassroots following through the Kwankwasiyya movement.

Analysts say his entry into the ADC could significantly alter opposition calculations ahead of the next general election.

With opposition realignments already gathering momentum across the country, political observers believe the former governor’s move may intensify efforts to build a formidable coalition capable of mounting a serious challenge to the APC in 2027.

For the ADC leadership, however, the message is clear: the party intends to transform Kwankwaso’s defection into the starting point of what it calls a national democratic movement.
“The movement has begun,” Mark declared. “The time is now.”