By Rapheal
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The battle to wrest the 2027 presidential ticket from the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG) finally entered into speed gear on Wednesday when the national leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) formally handed over the mantle of leadership to the coalition force.
In attendance during the handing over ceremony include former presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, former governors like Rotimi Amaechi, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke, Gabriel Suswan, Abdulfatai Ahmed, and Chukwuemeka Ihedioha, past and present National Assembly members, Senator Tony Nwoye, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh and Dino Melaye.
Other heavyweight party chieftains in attendance were former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, former APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, his PDP counterpart, Uche Seconds, former Ministers like Solomon Dalung, among others.
In his opening remarks, the interim national chairman, David Mark, accused President Bola Tinubu-led APC of leading Nigeria into a crippling democratic dictatorship.
While admitting that it will be a difficult journey for the ADC to wrest poewer from the APC, Mark described the coalition as a united front of Nigeria鈥檚 diverse opposition groups, youth organisations, civil society, and patriots committed to saving the country鈥檚 democracy.
鈥淭his coalition goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria鈥檚 democracy.鈥
Mark said ince the current administration took office two years ago, it has 鈥渉ijacked all democratic institutions鈥 and pushed Nigeria towards 鈥渢otal civilian dictatorship鈥.
The former senate president accused the Federal Government of destabilising opposition parties to achieve 鈥渢otal state capture鈥 and leave Nigerians with no alternative in the 2027 elections.
鈥淲e have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications.鈥
He criticised the administration鈥檚 focus on politicking over governance, which he said has left many Nigerians wallowing in hunger and poverty.
He said bandits and kidnappers kill Nigerians daily, yet the government has failed to act decisively. 鈥淭he Nigerian people deserve a government that protects them and makes them feel safe in their own homes.鈥
Mark also condemned the alleged emasculation of the National Assembly, describing it as 鈥渁 mere appendage of presidential authority鈥 that has allowed unconstitutional policies to flourish unchecked.
鈥淭his is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people. This coalition is for all Nigerians who share in our belief that we have a patriotic duty to save our country.鈥
Mark described the ADC as 鈥渘ot merely another electoral vehicle but a fortress and platform of our revived democracy鈥, promising it would be a party of equal stakeholders and democratic traditions.
鈥淭he coalition鈥檚 values are unity over division, service over slogans, action over excuses, compassion over inhumanity, transparency over opacity, inclusion over nepotism, real progress over endless rhetoric, performance over empty promises, rule of law over impunity, and justice over inequity. Our mission transcends any electoral calendar.
鈥淚t is a commitment to rebuild the guardrails of our democracy, to anchor power once again in the will of the people, and to hand to our children a nation worthy of their talents and their dreams,鈥滿ark said.
Earlier, the planned unveiling of the ADC coalition had suffered a setback following a last-minute cancellation by the event venue.
The event was scheduled for the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja.
However, hours before the programme, organisers were informed that the hotel would no longer host the event.
According to a screenshot of the cancellation notice shared on Instagram by Momodu, the hotel鈥檚 management said the cancellation was due to an 鈥渋nternal compliance matter.鈥
Subsequently, the coalition secured another venue 鈥 the Yar鈥橝dua Centre.