The Africa Democratic Congress, led by Peter Obi and Abubakar Atiku, intends to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. The coalition is a response to Nigeria's worsening economy under Tinubu's administration, uniting various leaders including Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi. Yunusa Tanko stated that the coalition aims to fight for Nigeria's soul, emphasizing the critical state of hunger and insecurity. Tinubu's APC criticized the coalition as politically ineffective, though supporters view it as a necessary political movement.
"We are fighting for the soul of the country, that is what this coalition is about," Yunusa Tanko, a member of the new coalition and coordinator of Obi's so-called "Obidient" movement, told DW. "The Nigerian system is in a bad state - there's hunger in the land, rising insecurity, and clear disdain for democratic values."
"Many true democrats believe the system must be rejigged. This coalition is a collective effort to fight for the soul of Nigeria and defend the essence of democracy. It's also about making sure hunger doesn't wipe away the people in the midst of plenty."
Despite allegations of electoral fraud, political violence, and corruption, Nigeria has regularly held peaceful elections since the return of democracy in 1999.
Tinubu's ruling APC dismissed the new party as a coalition of "retired politicians without electoral value." Binta Garba Massi, a supporter of Tinubu, commented on the election scenario by noting, "Coalition in a democratic setting - this is healthy to me."
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