- The coalition’s aim is to prevent the emergence of a single-party dominance across Nigeria’s political landscape.
- Mark delivered his remarks during a political gathering in Abuja focused on coalition strategy for the coming elections.
The interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has said that the opposition parties will stop Nigeria from becoming a one-party state..
He spoke on Wednesday during the unveiling of the ADC as the coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former senate president said the group includes opposition political parties, youth organisations, civil society, and concerned Nigerians ready to “rescue” democracy.
“This coalition goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy,” Mark declared.
Mark accused the federal government of hijacking key democratic institutions and dragging the country towards civilian dictatorship.
“We have never seen a government so much at home with corruption, a government that disdains accountability in all ramifications,” he said.
Mark alleged that the ruling administration was hell-bent on destabilising opposition parties to achieve what he called “total state capture”.
He decried the level of poverty and hunger in the country, blaming it on the government’s obsession with politics instead of governance.
“Our people are suffering. Bandits and kidnappers are killing Nigerians every day, yet the government is looking the other way,” he said.
He criticised the national assembly, describing it as an appendage of the presidency that allows illegal policies to go unchecked.
“This is a dangerous conspiracy against the Nigerian people,” Mark said, insisting the coalition was born out of patriotism, not politics.
According to him, the ADC is not just another platform for elections, but “a fortress and platform of our revived democracy”.
He said, “Our values are unity over division, action over excuses, justice over inequity, and rule of law over impunity.”
Mark added that the group’s mission goes beyond 2027, saying it is about building a country worthy of future generations.
Top politicians, including former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola and Emeka Ihedioha, attended the event.