David Mark Emerges ADC National Chairman as Top APC Chieftains Dump Party for Opposition Coalition (Full List)

ABUJA — Former Senate President, David Mark, has officially taken over as the Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

TJ News Nigeria reports that Mark’s appointment follows the mass resignation of the ADC’s leadership across all levels, clearing the path for a new opposition coalition formed to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The official announcement was made on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, where the ADC was formally unveiled as the new platform of the emerging opposition alliance.

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Full List of Top APC Politicians Who Have Defected to ADC:

1. Abubakar Malami – Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice
2. John Odigie-Oyegun – Former APC National Chairman and ex-Governor of Edo State
3. Rauf Aregbesola – Former Governor of Osun State, now ADC Interim National Secretary
4. Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar (retd.) – Former Chief of Air Staff, 2023 APC Bauchi guber candidate
5. Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor – Former Senator and former Governor of Edo State

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🔹 David Mark Takes the Helm

Mark’s emergence as interim chairman comes at a critical time as the opposition coalition begins building momentum toward 2027. His political experience and bipartisan appeal are seen as key assets for the ADC-led alliance.

Speaking at the event, outgoing ADC chairman Ralph O. Nwosu confirmed the transfer of the party structure to the coalition, citing a unified vision to “rescue Nigeria from economic hardship and insecurity.”

Also Read: Keyamo Accuses Atiku, David Mark of Plotting to Use and Dump Peter Obi in ADC Coalition

Also appointed was Rauf Aregbesola as Interim National Secretary, signaling the coalition’s readiness to bring in heavyweights from across party lines.

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🔹 Opposition Titans Rally in Abuja

The high-profile event drew a crowd of political heavyweights and party delegates from the PDP, Labour Party, SDP, and smaller parties. Those in attendance include:

• Atiku Abubakar – Former Vice President, 2023 PDP Presidential Candidate
• Peter Obi – 2023 Presidential Candidate, Labour Party
• Nasir El-Rufai – Former Governor of Kaduna State
• Rotimi Amaechi – Former Governor of Rivers State
• Dino Melaye, Solomon Dalung, Dele Momodu, Ireti Kingibe, Victor Umeh, Gabriel Suswam, Emeka Ihedioha, and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar

According to insiders, the coalition aims to form a single, united opposition ticket for the 2027 election, leveraging the ADC’s national spread and structure.

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🔹 Malami Leads High-Profile Defections from APC

Abubakar Malami’s defection was one of the first confirmed shifts, coming shortly after the ADC unveiling. In a press release, the former Attorney-General declared his exit from the APC, citing “Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and propaganda-driven governance.”

“This is not a decision made out of anger or ambition, but one inspired by love for our nation,” Malami stated. “Nigeria is bleeding… and governance has been abandoned.”

His departure adds weight to growing discontent within the APC’s northern bloc.

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🔹 Oyegun, Abubakar, Osunbor Join Coalition

Chief John Oyegun, former APC national chairman, also dumped the ruling party to align with the ADC coalition. Sources say Oyegun, along with Atiku Abubakar and Aminu Tambuwal, played key roles in convincing party delegates to adopt ADC as the coalition’s new platform.

Also joining are:

• Air Marshal (retd.) Sadique Abubakar, who lost the 2023 Bauchi governorship to PDP’s Bala Mohammed.
• Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, ex-senator and briefly Governor of Edo State.

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🔹 Coalition’s 2027 Agenda Underway

The formation of this ADC-led coalition marks the most significant political realignment since the merger that birthed the APC in 2013. With prominent figures from across Nigeria’s political spectrum now united under one platform, the stage is set for a major 2027 electoral showdown.

TJ News Nigeria learnt that more defections are expected in the coming weeks, as the coalition begins nationwide consultations and grassroots mobilization.