Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday attended a meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition leaders in Abuja, joining several prominent Nigerian politicians.

Those present at the gathering included former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai; ex-Minister of Digital Economy Isa Pantami; ADC National Chairman and former Senate President David Mark; former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed; and ex-Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

In a post on his official X account, Atiku described the meeting as part of efforts to confront entrenched interests that, he said, are hindering Nigeria’s development. He added that the gathering was also aimed at challenging oligarchs who perpetuate poverty and insecurity in the country.

He wrote, “I am currently at the stakeholders meeting of the Coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja. It’s a meeting of the Nigerian people against the oligarchs who promote poverty and insecurity in the land.”

The ADC coalition was adopted in July by opposition politicians as a platform to contest the 2027 general elections.

The African Democratic Congress, originally founded in 2005 as the Alliance for Democratic Change, later rebranded to ADC and was officially registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2011. The party positions itself as a centrist alternative to the dominant Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) and has over the years attracted defectors and reform-minded politicians seeking to establish a third force in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Other notable members of the coalition include former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus; 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi; former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola; ex-House of Representatives Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; ex-Kogi Central Senator Dino Melaye; and former APC National Chairman Odigie Oyegun.