The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reacted to the formation of a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), with the APC choosing to remain silent on the matter and the PDP dismissing it as inconsequential.
The ADA, which was formed by a group of influential politicians, including former Senate President David Mark, aims to challenge the dominance of the APC and PDP in the 2027 general elections. However, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has dismissed the new party, saying it lacks the political strength to pose any real challenge to the ruling APC. Keyamo likened ADA’s formation to other frequent political associations that surface with similar ambitions but often fail to gain traction.
The PDP, on its part, has insisted that its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will hold on June 30, 2025, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejecting its notification. The party’s spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, said the PDP is a well-structured and organized party working towards its laid-down objectives and is not deterred or distracted by the formation of ADA. Ologunagba also explained that the party merely sent a notification to INEC as a matter of courtesy, pointing out that it was not under any legal obligation to notify the electoral body.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied reports that he and his allies have adopted ADA as their new platform, saying the coalition is yet to agree on a new party. Atiku’s media aide, Demola Olarenwaju, stated that the group still has issues to sort out and that ADA has not been adopted by the coalition.
Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of APC, faulted ADA’s claim that the South would have ruled for 17 years by 2027, noting that the North has held power longer since 1960. He also questioned whether critics were ignoring President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s infrastructure projects, regional development commissions, and local government financial autonomy.
The formation of ADA has sparked mixed reactions, with some analysts speculating that it could reinvigorate a disillusioned electorate, while others warn that it may face challenges due to internal disputes and weak structures. The party’s application for registration is currently being considered by INEC.
