ADC convention: Mark, Atiku, Aregbesola tackle Tinubu on hardship, insecurity
By: Abudu Olalekan
This was easily the most remarkable political event of the year so far. No question.
David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi all stood on the same stage on Tuesday. Let that sink in for a second. Men that have been political enemies for 20 years. All on one stage.
Speaking at the ADC national convention themed ‘So That Nigeria May Work’, every single one of them took turns tearing into the Tinubu administration. And they did not pull a single punch.
They are all saying the same thing. There will be no easy victory for Tinubu in 2027.
They talked about the worsening hardship. They talked about the collapse of security across the country. They said Nigerians are facing levels of suffering that are completely unprecedented.
This was not just another opposition rally. This is the single largest coalition of opposition heavyweights we have seen in this country in decades.
Of course it is not that simple. Nothing in Nigerian politics ever is.
The faction of the ADC led by Nafiu Bala says this entire convention was completely illegitimate. They say they will hold their own separate convention as soon as the Supreme Court gives its judgement.
If you are just catching up on this very messy drama, here is the short version. On April 1, INEC announced they were delisting Mark, Aregbesola and all the new leadership from the party’s official register. They said they were acting on a court order to maintain the status quo while the case is ongoing.
This fight has been dragging on since last year. It started in 2025 when Mark’s group announced a new National Working Committee. Another faction said the entire process was illegal.
The root of the whole fight actually goes all the way back to 2022. Ralph Nwosu’s tenure as chairman ended that August. Nwosu said he had agreed a transition plan for 2025. His deputy Nafiu Gombe said no, he should have become acting chairman immediately.
It has spiralled from there. Multiple court cases at every level. Constant back and forth with INEC. And now three completely separate factions all claiming to be the real ADC.
For anyone keeping count. Mark and Aregbesola’s bloc. Nafiu Gombe’s bloc. And a third bloc backed by 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, led by Kingsley Ogga.
None of that stopped the convention on Tuesday. Over 3000 delegates showed up. They voted Mark and the new NWC into office. They adopted a revised constitution and a new party manifesto.
Mark spoke first. And he was in uncompromising form.
“You cannot wish this party away. You cannot litigate us into silence” he told the crowd. “This party does not belong to any of us on this stage. It belongs to the Nigerian people. And you can see that today by how many turned up.”
He went on:
“I say to those who orchestrated all these obstacles. You have not weakened us. You have welded us together. Every attempt to suppress this party has only deepened the resolve of our members. It has reminded Nigerians why a strong opposition is not optional. It is essential to the survival of democracy.”
“Across Nigeria there is a generation waking up. They want a different country. A country that nurtures their talents and supports their ambitions. They are asking tough questions of everyone that wants to lead them. And more and more they are looking to the ADC as a credible alternative. Not because we are perfect. But because our vision aligns with theirs.”
“The reason we are here. The only reason. Is to prove that something good can actually come out of Nigerian politics. That democracy can actually deliver people a better life. That is the entire goal of this party.”
He finished by promising that no member of the ADC, no matter how highly placed, will ever be bigger than the party. And no member, no matter how lowly, will ever be ignored.
Then Aregbesola spoke. And if you thought Mark was blunt.
Aregbesola said directly that Tinubu should resign.
He said transport costs have risen so sharply that some workers can now no longer even afford to commute to their jobs.
“Any honest man that made the promises he made and failed this badly would step down. He would not even run again. Instead we are watching the most desperate attempt any candidate has ever made to hold onto power. Even if it means bringing down the entire democratic system. It is our duty to stop them.”
“There will be no coronation in 2027. There will be no Kabiyesi in Aso Rock come 2027.”
He also described Tinubu’s rule as autocratic, and said that today being in opposition is effectively treated as a criminal offence.
Then Atiku spoke. He said INEC chairman Joash Amupitan will not escape accountability for his actions.
“I remember when APC was formed. All of them came to my house. They begged me to join. They said it would not work without me. Now look at what we have. Economy gone. Security gone. Education gone. Infrastructure gone. Healthcare gone. Everything gone.”
“Now we have to rise up and bring real change. Genuine change. And I am telling you now. We are going to win.”
Peter Obi told the crowd that unity is the only thing that will work. That the country is more divided than it has ever been, and it is collapsing faster than most people realise.
Rotimi Amaechi was the last to speak. And he was by far the angriest.
“How can a man that says he fought for NADECO be the one killing democracy today?” he asked. “These people do not care about anything. Only money. That is it. That is all they care about.”
“They are using every institution of state against the people of Nigeria. And if you think they will ever hand over power peacefully you are wasting your time. The ADC has to come together. We have to pick one viable candidate. And we have to win.”
As expected, the opposing faction completely dismissed the entire event.
Nafiu’s chief of staff Bala Sani told Reportersroom “We do not recognise this convention at all. To us it is a mockery and a joke. We are law abiding. We will wait for the Supreme Court judgement before we hold our own.”
He said they had originally fixed their convention twice, first for April 3 then September 9, but suspended it after INEC refused to recognise their faction.
Court updates
All of this will be decided in the space of one week.
The Supreme Court has fixed April 22 for the hearing of Mark’s appeal on the leadership dispute. They granted accelerated hearing on Tuesday.
A five man panel gave extremely tight deadlines for all parties to file their briefs. This thing is moving faster than almost any other political court case in recent memory.
Also on Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court adjourned his own case on the ADC crisis indefinitely.
Almost everyone in the court room was surprised by that decision. All three sides actually agreed and asked him to continue with the hearing. They all confirmed there was no stay order in place.
It did not matter. Nwite said it would be unreasonable to proceed while the Supreme Court was still ruling on jurisdiction.
And then there was a third court order.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered all factions of the ADC to maintain the status quo. No one is allowed to take any further action at all until the case before her is heard.
That matter has been adjourned to April 23.
So right now. Everything is frozen. Everything is on hold. And we will not know which of the three factions is actually the legal ADC for at least another two weeks.
