Challenges mount as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his political allies seek the registration of a new party identified as the All Democratic Alliance (ADA)
By Lukmon Ojerinde
Penultimate week, a new political coalition began a move towards its consummation to another political party. The Nigerian National Coalition Group (NNCG) had set out to register another political party to confront the All Progressives Congress (APC)-near monopoly in the nation’s democratic landscape. Indeed, thence berthed the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) now seeking registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
If ADA is granted access into the comity of the numerous political parties already in the INEC kitty, by the election umpire, the implementation is that the newest party then, will give its platform to a political figure that will be acceptable in the six geopolitical zones of the country, who will square up with the number one contender in the 2027 presidential election, incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
The promoters of ADA, a word in Igbo language that depicts a beautiful first feminine born in a family, are all old horses in Nigeria’s politics since 1999. The roll call of these heavyweight politicians indicates a group of personalities who have held topmost political offices since the advent of this democratic dispensation.
Such intimidating names as Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, Bukola Saraki, a former governor and Senate President respectively, former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal and Nasir el’Rufai are all members of the NNCG. There are still former ministers Abubakar Malami, and Salihu Lukmon, as well as Babachir Lawal who reigned in former President Mohammadu Buhari government. At a point, the name of former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, was linked with the group until the Obidient Movement threatened fire and brimstone.
In ADA’s letter to the INEC for formal registration signed by Chief Akin Rickets, the National Protem Chairman, with the title “Application for Registration as a Political Party”, ADA wrote, “We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), as a political party. This is sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration.
“The name of the party shall be All Democratic Alliance with ADA as our acronym and “Justice for All” as slogan.
“The National Secretariat of the party is as stated at the bottom of the association’s letterhead used in this application.
“We have also herewith attached our logo describing in details the symbolism of our party colours and their configuration and the corn (maize)”.
Since the application was tendered to the registering authority, ADA appears to be enmeshed in numerous challenges that might depreciate its beauty as a metaphor for the South east damsel who is often adored by many, particularly during her infancy. Ironically, the Atiku’s ADA seems to be facing rejection from the labour period before it may or may not be delivered by the INEC.
The first major hurdle of ADA is with the INEC. The national umpire had revealed last week, through its chairman, Mahmud Yakubu, during a meeting with select media executives in Abuja on Wednesday, June 26, 2025, that there were as many as 110 political associations, including ADA, which have applied for registration as full-fledged political parties. It was also learnt that there was another parallel ADA seeking registration by INEC apart from the Atiku’s ADA.
However, Yakubu had assured that “we will continue to be guided by law and act with fairness to all associations seeking registration as political parties”.
Again, on the same day ADA’s letter was sent to the INEC, it began to face oppression from different angles. Of particular note is the stripping Atiku of the traditional title of Waziri Adamawa by the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmad Fintiri, citing structural realignment in the state’s Chiefdom. The move was suspected by many to be politically motivated by the APC given the fact that Atiku and Fintiri had been close political allies before now.
Furthermore, all the promoters of ADA are said to be political suspects who are seeking relevance for selfish purposes. Critics alleged that all the governors in the NNCG had misruled their states when they held sway, and therefore, cannot be trusted by the electorate.
No wonder President Tinubu chose to brand members of the NNCG as political Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Whenever ADA enters the fold of political parties, it will have a herculean task to convince the already disenchanted electorate on why it should be the new bride in 2027 to wrestle power with Tinubu and the APC. Otherwise, the coast will be cleared for the incumbent president to coast home to victory with minimal challenge.
