Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress are in talks to form an alliance that could see both parties back a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, according to multiple party officials.
A member of the PDP National Working Committee aligned with the Kabiru Turaki-led faction said the party was already considering an alliance with the ADC as unresolved leadership disputes and protracted court cases threaten its ability to field candidates. “We are already taking steps so that even if some of us remain in the PDP, our candidates will be able to contest under other parties, especially the ADC,” the PDP chieftain said. “We may not even have a presidential candidate because, yes, we have the structure, but with the current situation, we cannot go anywhere. That is why we are already in talks with ADC leaders, and negotiations are ongoing. We cannot afford to be stranded.”
The chieftain added that the PDP faction had a clear direction. “If you say we are in a dilemma, that was in the past. Now we have a clear direction, which is to form an alliance with the ADC to protect the interests of our candidates. In a short time, our negotiations with the ADC will produce a defined structure.”
Confirming the discussions, a top official of the ADC said some leaders of the PDP and the ADC had met over the proposed alliance. According to the official, the PDP leaders were from the Turaki-led faction and were willing to work with the ADC.
The move comes as the PDP grapples with internal wrangling that has seen the party lose two governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress, along with their supporters. Some lawmakers have also defected to the APC.
Despite this, the PDP National Working Committee, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, has maintained that while the PDP remained open to receiving defectors, it had no intention of joining any coalition. On April 15 in Ibadan, Oyo State, PDP governors declared that the party would steer clear of the emerging coalition aimed at unseating President Tinubu in 2027.
However, influential PDP chieftains, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, have urged party members and the wider public to support the ADC-led coalition.
The ADC was unveiled on July 1 as a unified opposition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027 by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers and Kaduna state governors, Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai respectively. Former Senate President David Mark and former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola were appointed as the party’s National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
Speaking on the coalition, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ameh, said the ADC-led coalition was a project intended to end bad governance in 2027. “We wish to clarify that the coalition being referenced is not an ‘Atiku-led’ initiative but a collective movement of dedicated Nigerians united to combat bad leadership, corruption, and systemic inefficiencies,” he said.
The ADC leadership has demanded that members resign from their current political parties and join the African Democratic Congress fully, although it gave no specific deadline for the transition. ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi stated that all matters related to the African Democratic Association have now been resolved. “Though final order has been given to all members to resign membership of other political parties, the caucus was silent on the timeline,” Abdullahi said.
He added that all the presidential aspirants have agreed to support whoever wins the primaries election.
Former PDP governorship aspirant Umar Ardo said Peter Obi may struggle to secure the ADC presidential ticket for the 2027 election if former vice president Atiku Abubakar does not step aside. “Well, the ADC, as it is currently constituted, if it goes for primaries a hundred times, Atiku will win a hundred times. There is absolutely no doubt about that. How Peter Obi and his supporters react is what will determine the election,” Ardo said.
Meanwhile, David Mark, the interim national chairman of the ADC, said the party has no preferred presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 general election. “The ADC has no preferred or favourite presidential aspirant but is focused on establishing a platform that appeals to the majority of Nigerians,” Mark said.
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido said he was willing to work for any arrangement within his party or outside it to secure Nigeria in 2027 but said he will not be part of any coalition or join the ADC. Lamido said the ADC coalition is that of individuals and not political institutions.
The ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said the party is open to every Nigerian willing to be part of the rescue mission. “We are open to every Nigerian willing to be part of the rescue mission,” he said.
A PDP chieftain said the party’s chances of having candidates for the 2027 general elections are very slim due to INEC’s actions. “With what INEC has done to our candidate in Ekiti State, we should not deceive ourselves; our chances of having candidates for the 2027 general elections are very slim,” the chieftain said.
The PDP’s National Convention is scheduled for November 2025 in Ibadan and is seen as a chance to address internal rifts and reassert political relevance. But unresolved tensions involving figures such as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, and Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed continue to cloud its prospects.
As of the time of filing this report, no formal agreement has been announced on a single presidential candidate between the PDP and ADC, but negotiations are ongoing and party officials from both sides have confirmed meetings on a proposed alliance.
