ADC, opposition coalition vow to take over Kaduna

The coalition of political opposition in Kaduna State, alongside stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress, on Monday, declared a sweeping move to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress and Governor Uba Sani in the 2027 elections.

At a press briefing in Kaduna, the leaders, drawn from former members of the APC, Peoples Democratic Party, and Labour Party, vowed to build a formidable political force that would unify citizens, end divisive politics, and prioritise people-centred development.

The briefing, addressed by Malam Salihu Mohammed Lukman on behalf of the coalition and ADC stakeholders, also had the blessing of high-profile opposition figures, including Senator Nenadi Usman, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, Dr John Ayuba, Senator Musa Bello, and Alhaji Shuaibu Idris Mikati, who all appended their signatures to the communiqué.

Lukman, a former APC National Vice Chairman (Northwest), said Kaduna State had suffered under leaders who rode on citizens’ frustration to seize power, only to worsen hardship through discriminatory, self-serving, and lawless governance

He noted that following the national adoption of the ADC as the coalition’s platform for the 2027 polls, Kaduna stakeholders had commenced consultations and verification exercises across the 23 local governments and 255 wards to erect a solid grassroots structure.

According to him, work was underway to ensure that the ADC did not become another “business-as-usual project reduced to errand boys and surrogates of ambitious politicians,” stressing that individual ambitions, particularly governorship interests, would be shelved until the party’s foundation was firmly laid.

“The era of godfatherism and imposition is over. We are determined to ensure that no single leader hijacks ADC structures in Kaduna. All stakeholders will have equal say, and majority decisions will be respected,” he said.

Lukman further revealed that the coalition had drawn inspiration from the national template, which united all major opposition leaders around a single goal: to defeat President Bola Tinubu and the APC by producing one presidential candidate in 2027.

“Applying that to Kaduna means we must unite to remove the APC and Governor Uba Sani. No one can do it alone. We must avoid turning the ADC into another personal property for political bargaining,” he said.

The coalition leaders appealed to aspiring opposition politicians to demonstrate tolerance and openness, warning that intolerance breeds discrimination, rigging, and abuse of power—the very vices they seek to end.

On the question of the tenure of existing ADC executives in the state, Lukman clarified that the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator David Mark, had assured all state chairmen that their leadership remained intact pending further guidelines.

He disclosed that plans were underway for mass membership registration across the state, promising that the ADC would soon announce registration centres in all local governments to allow citizens eager for change to enlist.

The coalition insisted that only a truly democratic platform with internal checks can produce leaders with the character to rescue Nigeria’s battered democracy and deliver good governance.