Senator Dino Melaye has stated that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will have a formidable candidate to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
On Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Melaye stated that the coalition is trying to strengthen its organisation and present a genuine alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Those of us in the ADC need to create a comfortable, stable platform. And I believe that platform will produce a candidate that will unseat President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
He stressed that the immediate objective is to strengthen the party’s internal framework and provide a transparent process for picking its presidential flagbearer.
“I will not be talking about a presidential candidate or aspirant or preference for anybody until we get the party completely stabilised and organise a transparent convention that will produce a presidential candidate of the ADC who, by the grace of God, will kick,” Melaye added.
Melaye described the coalition as a moral movement rather than a political platform, comparing it to a spiritual call to action.
“Why Nigerians should think differently about the ADC is that once there’s an altar call in the church of God—only those who are emotionally affected, have a conscience, and are ready to leave darkness and move into light respond. So, ADC is a national altar call,” he said.
While recognising that not all members are ideal, he stressed that the party’s shared commitment to Nigeria’s future is what holds it together.
“Not everybody in ADC is a saint, but what I’m telling you is that everybody who moved into ADC is concerned about Nigeria. We want to see a Nigeria where we’ll be able to answer questions from our grandchildren… ‘What did you do when Nigeria was being destroyed?’” he said.
Melaye’s statements follow a significant opposition coalition conference conducted on July 2 at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. At the event, major political personalities backed the ADC as a platform for challenging the APC in the next presidential election.
Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder, delivered ADC membership cards to former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who were named interim national chairman and secretary of the alliance, respectively.
Other notable attendees included Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Ireti Kingibe, Dele Momodu, Emeka Ihedioha, and Melaye himself.
