Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a major realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku confirmed his new party affiliation in a post on his X handle on Monday, where he shared a photo of himself holding his ADC membership card with the brief declaration: “It’s official.”
His announcement ends months of speculation over his next political destination following his July resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku’s switch to the ADC follows a prolonged period of crisis within the PDP, a party he had contested the 2023 presidential election under.
His exit was widely interpreted as a response to unresolved internal divisions, leadership struggles, and the broader reconfiguration of opposition alliances.
For the former vice president, the ADC-backed by a growing coalition of civil society blocs, youth platforms, and emerging political groups, provides a fresh structure to reposition his influence and negotiate new alignments ahead of the crucial 2027 polls.
The development represents a significant boost for the ADC, a party that has long styled itself as a reform-driven alternative in Nigeria’s political space but has struggled to achieve national dominance.
Atiku’s entry is expected to reshape the party’s strategy, attract new political actors, and intensify consultations among opposition figures exploring a unified challenge to the ruling party.
His movement also signals what analysts view as the opening stages of a broader opposition coalition-building effort, with 2027 political manoeuvring now fully underway.
