ADC: David Mark breaks silence on preferred presidential aspirant 

With various permutations in play, the question of who will secure the presidential ticket for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is generating considerable interest.

As discussions unfold, potential candidates are being scrutinized, and the strategies involved in selecting the right leader for the party are becoming increasingly complex.

The coalition, led by former vice president and 2023 PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, was formed to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the next general election.

The interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has said that the party has no preferred aspirant for its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.

Addressing stakeholders of the ADC’s Kogi State chapter at a meeting in Abuja yesterday, Mark said the party would adopt a transparent process in selecting its candidates for the election.

As reported by Daily Trust, a coalition of opposition forces formally adopted the ADC last Thursday as the political platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

At the adoption event, David Mark and former interior minister Rauf Aregbesola were announced as interim national chairman and secretary of the party, respectively.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, Peter Obi, and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi—both members of the new coalition—have expressed interest in the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket, each pledging to serve only a single four-year term if elected.

Atiku Abubakar has also hinted at another run.

However, Mark stated: “The ADC has no preferred or favourite presidential aspirant. We have set out to first build a platform that would be attractive and acceptable to the majority of Nigerians.”

The former Senate President added: “We are doing this because we do not want this great ship called Nigeria to sink. If we don’t rise now, they will sink all of us.

“I don’t own this party more than any other member, and I urge everyone to prepare to show Nigerians that ADC is a different party—a party ready to run democracy properly in this country. All Nigerians must come together and take ownership of the ADC.”

He urged party members to set aside differences and unite: “We must bond together to build the party before we can talk of ambitions.”

Mark also criticised the APC, calling on its members to focus on policies rather than attacking individuals.

“If they admitted insecurity is bad and promised to fix it but made it worse, would Nigerians continue to support them? The answer is no. Let’s work together to rebuild our nation and prioritise future generations,” he said.