A major political shakeup may be on the horizon as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other political heavyweights have applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of a new party — the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The application, dated June 19, was formally acknowledged by INEC on Friday, June 20. This move signals the coalition’s intention to float a fresh platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also backing the new coalition are former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and former aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to the application letter jointly signed by ADA’s Protem National Chairman, Chief Akin A. Rickets, and Protem National Secretary, Abdullahi Elayo, the group is committed to offering Nigerians a new political direction.
“We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, as a political party,” the letter stated. “The name of the party shall be All Democratic Alliance with ADA as our acronym and ‘Justice for All’ as our slogan.”
The coalition also submitted supporting documents, including the party’s constitution, manifesto, logo, and minutes of foundational meetings. The party’s proposed symbol — a maize (corn) — is said to represent abundance, resilience, and sustenance.
“We have further attached our manifesto encompassing details of our party ideology and our constitution providing the legal framework that defines our identity, structures, and organisation,” the letter added.
This development follows closely on the heels of a stern reminder by INEC that public sentiment or pressure will not override the need for compliance with constitutional and electoral guidelines in the party registration process.
The ADA’s formation appears aimed at capitalizing on growing public discontent and political realignment across the country, setting the stage for a potentially fierce showdown in 2027.
