A major political shift may be underway in Nigeria’s political landscape, as the National Opposition Coalition Group, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The coalition’s application, dated June 19, 2025, and acknowledged by INEC on Friday, marks a definitive move to establish a new political platform rather than align with any of the country’s existing parties.
The development effectively ends weeks of speculation surrounding the group’s political direction.
The formation of the ADA is also being backed by other notable political figures, including former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Dr. Umar Ardo, a former aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and convener of the League of Northern Democrats.
The initiative is seen as a strategic response to growing public dissatisfaction and evolving political dynamics aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.
The move comes just days after INEC reiterated that party registration is a rigorous constitutional process requiring full compliance with legal and procedural guidelines, warning that no amount of political pressure or public sentiment would override due process.
In a copy of the application letter obtained, the request for registration was jointly signed by the coalition’s Protem National Chairman, Chief Akin A. Rickets, and Protem National Secretary, Abdullahi Elayo.
“We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, as a political party. This is a sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration,” the letter read in part.
The application includes all statutory documents required by INEC, such as the party’s constitution, manifesto, logo, and minutes of its foundational meetings.
The proposed party symbol, a maize (corn), was described by the coalition as representing abundance, resilience, and sustenance, which they identified as central to their political vision.
“We have further attached our manifesto encompassing details of our party ideology and our constitution providing the legal framework that defines our identity, structures, and organisation,” the letter added.
If approved, the All Democratic Alliance could become a major force in Nigeria’s political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, theMinister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has mocked the anti-Tinubu coalition’s new party bid, calling it a ‘Pedestrian Joke’.
His words, “This is just a simple application for party registration. There is nothing like a ‘coalition’ here. It is an unnecessary hype the promoters have been struggling to create all along; it is just a psychological warfare on Nigerians – a weak attempt at mass appeal. No recognised existing political party or parties are part of this. If they are thinking of recreating what the APC did in 2013, then this is nothing but a pedestrian joke; a complete mockery of that seismic political coalition that birthed APC in 2013.
“A few individuals exercising their constitutional right to form a new political party cannot be described as a ‘coalition’ or even a ‘merger’. This is not different from several political associations springing up everyday for the same purpose. After all the razzmatazz, it boils down to the fact that a new political party is just attempting registration by a few Nigerians; it is a disappointing anti-climax to all the preceding pomp and pageantry.”
