The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State has called on Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party to join an emerging coalition of opposition parties or risk being voted out in the 2027 general elections.
At a high-level political gathering held in Umuahia over the weekend, tagged the ADC Convergence of Coalition Partners and themed “Strengthening Alliances for a Better Nigeria”, the ADC’s Abia State Chairman, Mr. Don Norman Obinna, made this declaration. He served as the event’s Chief Convener.
According to Obinna, “The ADC is adopted as a coalition party to right the wrongs orchestrated by the APC. The unemployment rate is alarming, the naira is in free fall, and the civil servants’ minimum wage is a national disgrace.”
He added that the coalition’s mission is to “bring succour to the people, chase hunger out of Nigeria, and restore the country to a trajectory of prosperity.”
Obinna revealed that the ADC had been adopted as the official political platform for the growing coalition of parties, a move expected to be formalized following consultations in Abuja.
He confirmed that key opposition leaders, such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi, participated in the coalition-building efforts.
“If Governor Otti refuses the call to join the coalition, it would democratically remove him in the 2027 elections,” Obinna warned.
Notable attendees at the Umuahia event included Senator Austin Akobundu (PDP, Abia Central) who served as the Chairman, Professors Uzoma Emmanuel and Max Nduaguibe, and Chief Chinkwe Udensi, who were among the guest speakers.
The gathering attracted influential politicians, civil society actors, youths, and reform-driven thinkers, all unified by a vision of a better Nigeria through political alliance.
Emphasizing the ideological foundation of the movement, Obinna declared: “I am therefore inviting Governor Alex Otti and others who have good intentions and are aspiring for elective positions to join the coalition or miss out in 2027.”
He insisted that the coalition aims not just for political realignment but to correct what he described as “years of governance failure, economic mismanagement, and citizen disenfranchisement at both state and federal levels.”
During a lecture titled “Leadership Imperatives for a Successful Coalition and Merger Outcome,” Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director of the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), outlined key leadership principles necessary for coalition success.
These include shared ideology, integrity, equity, internal democracy, youth and women inclusion, collective messaging, conflict resolution, and a long-term national vision.
Warning against superficial unity, Nwafor said, “If merging or coaligning is only to defeat the APC, the coalition is already weak.”
“So let us not merge with noise just to wrestle power, but coalign and merge for nation-building, restoration of hope, and a new belief system, which is the kind of coalition Nigeria needs.”
In another address, Professor Uzoma Emmanuel Afamefuna stressed the significance of inclusive governance and civic engagement in shaping a prosperous Nigeria.
“Nigeria has the resources, but its problem has always been leadership,” he noted.
He praised the ADC’s coalition effort and expressed confidence that with coordinated grassroots mobilization, the opposition could present a credible alternative in 2027.
He also advocated for rotational leadership, equitable representation, and issue-driven campaigns, warning the South East against electoral compromise.
“Do not sell your votes for rice, wrappers, or fake promises,” he urged, emphasizing that “only through citizen-led accountability can Nigeria chart a new course.”
Meanwhile, Blessed Amalambu, a former ADC House of Assembly candidate in Abia State, offered a word of caution.
He warned against the imposition of candidates and infiltration by corrupt figures.
He advised the coalition to “critically screen aspirants before presenting them to the electorate to vote for.”
