Nigeria’s main opposition parties, which have agreed to unite to contest 2027 elections under the banner of the little-known African Democratic Congress (ADC), appointed two interim leaders to steer preparations for their campaign.
Former Senate President David Mark was named as the ADC’s interim chairman at a briefing in Abuja, the capital, on Wednesday, while Rauf Aregbesola, a former interior minister, was appointed interim party secretary.
The alliance, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi’s Labor Party and former cabinet minister Nasir El-Rufai’s Social Democratic Party, have yet to agree on a presidential candidate.
Potential contenders include Abubakar, 78, who was the runner-up in the 2023 vote after garnering 29% support in his sixth unsuccessful bid for the top job, and Obi, who finished third with 25%.
Tinubu, who leads the All Progressives Congress, won the first-past-the-post race with 37% backing.
Tinubu has implemented a raft of reforms to accelerate growth and stabilize the state’s finances since taking charge of Africa’s largest oil producer.
While his efforts have been welcomed by investors and the International Monetary Fund, they’ve also spurred a devaluation of the naira, stoked inflation and triggered a cost-of-living crisis in the country of more than 200 million people, at least 40% of whom live in extreme poverty.
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