David Mark Declares ADC Has No Preferred 2027 Presidential Candidate

ABUJA, NG — July 9, 2025 | IDNN

Former Senate President and interim chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has clarified that the party has not endorsed any presidential aspirant for the 2027 elections. Speaking at a stakeholder meeting with the ADC Kogi State chapter in Abuja on Tuesday, Mark emphasized that the party’s leadership was focused on building an inclusive and transparent platform, not personality cults.

“We have no preferred or favourite aspirant. What we’re building is a credible political structure that resonates with the Nigerian people,” Mark said.

The ADC has gained renewed momentum in recent months after being adopted as the official platform for the newly-formed opposition coalition. However, with prominent figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rauf Aregbesola now associated with the coalition, there had been speculation over backdoor endorsements.

Mark dismissed the rumours, insisting that all members are equal stakeholders and that ADC’s mission is rooted in national redemption.

“I don’t own this party more than any other member. We’re all equal joiners, equal owners,” he affirmed.

 “We Must Rescue the Nigerian Ship”

Drawing on metaphor and warning of political stagnation, Mark said Nigeria risks collapse if parties fail to prioritize national unity and institutional revival.

“If we do not rise now and this ship called Nigeria sinks, all of us will be affected,” he said. “ADC is here to properly run democracy, and we are inviting all Nigerians to take ownership.”

He urged party faithful to put aside internal differences and focus on realigning Nigeria’s democratic values.

“Let us stop attacking one another and concentrate on the real issues—like insecurity and broken governance structures.”

 Legal Firestorm in Kogi, Nasarawa

Meanwhile, ADC’s interim leadership is facing legal challenges over its authority, with lawsuits filed using the names of individuals allegedly not registered party members.

Mohammed Sheriff, leader of the National Legal Support Group for ADC, revealed that:

• The names used to file lawsuits against ADC are not in the party’s registers in Kogi or Nasarawa.

• At least 97 lawyers have signed up to defend ADC’s leadership in court.

Sheriff said the suits were part of a broader plot to destabilize the ADC from within but insisted that the legal team was fully mobilized to protect the party’s integrity.

“This is about the soul of a party that is rising as a credible force in Nigeria’s democratic space,” he said.

 What This Means for 2027

David Mark’s clarification signals a deliberate attempt to dampen internal power tussles and reaffirm the ADC’s role as a vehicle for national revival—not just a tool for elite political ambitions.

With the party poised to lead the opposition into 2027, its posture of neutrality and inclusivity may help unify fractured blocs still recovering from the 2023 elections.

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