ABUJA, Nigeria — Bolaji Abdullahi, interim national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has claimed that serving state governors are reluctant to align with the newly unveiled opposition coalition due to fear of political intimidation.
Abdullahi made the remark on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the third expanded meeting of the ADC’s National Political Consultative Group (North) held in Abuja.
His comments come weeks after the coalition’s formal launch, which brought together several high-profile political figures across party lines.
On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, opposition leaders including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate; former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai; and ex-transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, publicly endorsed the ADC as the central platform for a new political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
David Mark, former senate president, and Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun governor, were announced as the party’s interim national chairman and secretary respectively.
Despite the high-profile rollout, no sitting governor has joined the coalition.
“We know that no serving governor will want to come to us now because of the kind of intimidation that they are facing,” Abdullahi said.
He suggested that pressure was being applied to governors to either remain silent or publicly align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leader, President Bola Tinubu.
“Some of them who cannot jump to their party (APC) are saying we are endorsing their presidential candidate (Tinubu). No problem. But what you are seeing is a conspiracy against the Nigerian people.”
Abdullahi maintained that the ADC remains open to all Nigerians and warned against what he described as systemic suppression of opposition voices.
He also addressed concerns that the ADC might become a platform for personal ambitions, stressing that the party is being built on structural reforms, not personalities.
“ADC is not going to be hijacked. The process for the building of the party ensures that it does not coalesce around any individual,” he stated.
“We don’t have any predetermined agenda. We don’t have any favourite aspirant or candidate. We are not having any conversation at the moment about who will be the party’s flag bearer.”
Abdullahi said the party’s immediate priority is to build a broad-based movement capable of delivering an alternative political direction for Nigeria.
“Our focus now is to build a political party that is strong enough to deliver on the mission that we have set for ourselves,” he added.
Saturday’s meeting also focused on socio-political and economic challenges in northern Nigeria. Abdullahi revealed that a similar regional meeting for the South will be convened soon.
