The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of a “desperate and dangerous” plan to destabilize Nigeria’s new opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 election. The ruling APC, however, denies the claims and says the North remains firmly behind Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Nigeria’s National Assembly building in Abuja symbolizes the nation’s democracy as political tensions mount. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly accused elements within the Tinubu government of engineering a secret scheme to undermine the united opposition coalition. ADC leaders – including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Labour Party candidate Peter Obi – adopted the ADC as their joint platform for the 2027 presidential race. In a statement, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said the alleged plot involved summoning former ADC state chairmen to a “fabricated scheme against the opposition coalition,” calling it “not politics. This is sabotage”. Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) rejects the accusations. APC national secretary Ajibola Bashiru publicly dismissed any “northern conspiracy” against Tinubu as “a lie from the pit of hell,” stressing that the North *“firmly supports President Bola Tinubu’s re-election”*. This article reviews the ADC’s allegations, the reported secret meetings, the APC’s response, and the possible implications for Nigeria’s 2027 election.
Context: ADC, Tinubu Administration and the Opposition Coalition
Coalition formation: The newly formed opposition alliance (often called the Coalition of Nigeria Political Groups) held a formal declaration on July 1, 2025, and on July 2 the ADC was unveiled as the coalition’s platform. Former officials such as ex-Senate President David Mark, ex-Ministers Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and others took interim leadership roles in the ADC to spearhead the campaign.
ADC becomes opposition platform: In July 2025, leaders of Nigeria’s main opposition parties – Peter Obi (Labour Party) and Atiku Abubakar (PDP) – joined the ADC, a smaller party, in what they described as a bid to “prevent one-party rule” by Tinubu’s APC. This move was meant to present a united front in the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu administration: President Bola Tinubu (APC) took office in 2023. His government has faced criticism over economic challenges, and the upcoming 2027 election is shaping up as a key test of his party’s popularity. The APC has started preparing for Tinubu’s re-election bid, emphasizing regional support.
One-party concerns: ADC leaders have argued that a united opposition is necessary to check any drift toward one-party dominance. ADC founders said the coalition was aimed at rescuing Nigeria’s democracy by giving voters a viable alternative to the APC.
The above points show how the ADC – once a minor party – became the centerpiece of a broad Nigerian opposition coalition, directly challenging Tinubu and the APC in the run-up to 2027.
ADC’s Accusations Against the Tinubu Administration
The ADC alleges that Tinubu’s administration is actively trying to weaken the opposition inside the country. In its July 7 statement, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described a “desperate and dangerous plot” by government insiders to destabilize the coalition. He said security officials lured former ADC state chairmen from the North East and North West into a secret meeting under false pretenses. “We have credible intelligence that the aim of this meeting is not for national security or peace-building. It is to intimidate, coerce, and, if possible, co-opt these individuals into a fabricated scheme against the opposition coalition. This is not politics. This is sabotage,” the ADC statement declared.
According to the ADC, the real objective of these clandestine discussions is to sow confusion within the party’s ranks and undermine the legitimacy of its new leadership. The party warned that this amounts to “a coordinated assault on multiparty democracy,” saying such intimidation tactics are exactly how “one-party states are born”. The ADC even linked the timing to its recent surge: it noted that its official coalition launch on July 1 and its rebranding on July 2 had “rattled the ruling party,” and claimed that Tinubu’s government now fears the pressure of a *“united and credible opposition.”*. The ADC called on President Tinubu to intervene, urging him to discipline anyone involved and prove his commitment to democracy.
These detailed allegations – backed by quoted intelligence claims – form the core of the ADC’s case. They portray a scenario where Tinubu appointees are secretly trying to lure away or silence potential opponents within ADC, effectively crippling the coalition’s momentum. (The ADC’s official statement itself was widely reported in Nigerian media.) As of now, no independent verification of such a meeting has emerged, so the truth of these accusations is a subject of debate.
APC Response and Northern Support
Ruling party officials, including President Tinubu (pictured), have flatly denied any plot. In a public briefing, APC National Secretary Ajibola Bashiru said talk of northern discontent was *“a lie from the pit of hell.”* He emphasized that the North remains firmly behind Tinubu. “We are not losing support,” Bashiru said, noting that Tinubu has been *“warmly received in northern cities like Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, and Gombe”*. He insisted northern backing is “unwavering,” pointing out visible street celebrations in those states and even citing a Tinubu campaign song (‘Omo Ologo’) that “has become an anthem in many northern communities”. In short, he asserted that *“the North firmly supports President Bola Tinubu’s re-election”*.
The APC also dismissed the credibility of the ADC coalition itself. Bashiru derided it as a “mushroom party” and a “contraption” of “self-serving individuals” without real political relevance. Other APC figures have similarly tried to downplay the opposition. For example, party spokesman Felix Morka told media on Arise TV that the APC is “not jittery” and praised President Tinubu for tackling Nigeria’s challenges with determination. In general, the APC’s message is that the coalition poses no threat to Tinubu, and that recent election victories show the party’s strength. Notably, Bashiru even quipped that there will be “no vacancy in Aso Rock until 2031,” telling rivals to be patient about presidential ambitions.
In summary, the APC response has been to reject the ADC’s claims and highlight Tinubu’s continued popularity. The party credits regional leaders and grass-roots supporters in the North for bolstering its confidence. By framing the ADC-led coalition as opportunistic and by asserting solid northern support, the APC is trying to shift the narrative back onto its own strong polling prospects for 2027. This sets up a stark contrast: the opposition warns of heavy-handed tactics by the government, while the ruling party portrays those warnings as baseless and paints the opposition as irrelevant.
Analysis and Implications
These exchanges illustrate deepening tensions in Nigeria’s multi-party democracy. On one hand, the ADC’s allegations suggest a government eager to undermine a rising coalition – a prospect that would alarm many Nigerians concerned about free competition. On the other hand, the APC’s rebuttal shows a government keen to defend its legitimacy and emphasize popular support.
The situation also reveals strains within the opposition itself. ADC founder Ralph Nwosu has cautioned that the new coalition faces risks unless it is carefully managed, warning of “clashing interests and competing political blocs” that could cause it to collapse. In fact, some ADC members have already gone to court to challenge the interim leadership formed by David Mark and others. This legal dispute shows that internal cohesion is not guaranteed. Observers note that if the ADC’s claims about the Tinubu administration are verified, it would underscore fears of government overreach; if the claims prove unfounded, they could undermine the opposition’s credibility. In either case, the controversy keeps voters’ attention on the stakes of 2027.
For international and Nigerian observers alike, the key questions are how these claims will affect public trust and electoral momentum. The ADC is using the allegations to rally support by portraying itself as the underdog defending democracy, while the APC is dismissing them as political theater. Given that Tinubu’s APC remains powerful, how much the North actually swings in 2027 could be decisive. So far, APC officials insist there is no northern backlash at all, but a strong opposition campaign could still emerge if Nigerians grow dissatisfied. Political analysts will be watching whether this drama strengthens the coalition by uniting voters against perceived government bullying, or whether it helps the APC by framing the opposition as unserious. In short, these developments are highly significant for the upcoming election climate.
Conclusion
In the run-up to Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, ADC’s accusations and the APC’s rebuttal have set a combative tone. The ADC claims the Tinubu government is resorting to subversive tactics to cripple the opposition, while the APC insists those charges are groundless and that President Tinubu’s support – especially in the North – is undiminished. At this point, neither side’s claims have been independently proven, and both parties continue to campaign vigorously. What is clear is that Nigerian voters will now watch closely for any evidence that might confirm or disprove the plot allegation. How the electorate responds will help shape the political narrative for 2027. The story underscores the fragile balance of Nigeria’s multiparty system: allegations of government meddling on one side, and affirmations of democratic support on the other. Ultimately, Nigerians themselves will judge these competing narratives in the context of the next election.
Sources: Statements and reports from the ADC, APC leaders, and Nigerian press (cited above). The events described are drawn from contemporary Nigerian news coverage and official party communications, as indicated.