Plans by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to elect former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, as its national chairman have unsettled the coalition of opposition politicians aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The shortlisting of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a new political association by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a potential alternative platform for a credible opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Before the adoption of the ADC as the coalition platform, promoters of the League of Northern Democrats, Shekarau, and Dr. Umar Ardo had advocated for ADA’s registration as a new political party rather than adopting an existing platform, citing potential crises of leadership and legitimacy.
Clarifying that Shekarau never joined the ADC coalition, Dr. Yau Sule Yau stated that the former Kano State governor opposed the coalition process. He emphasized that Shekarau continues to believe in collaborative governance and remains a member of the PDP.
It is recalled that ADA was among the 14 political associations that qualified for the next round of INEC’s interface for registration as political parties. Meanwhile, the PDP, through its Governors’ Forum led by Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, adopted Shekarau as a consensus national chairman during the party’s November 15–16 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Shekarau’s nomination has received endorsements from notable leaders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, during a closed-door meeting in Abuja.
A mutual associate of Obi and the former President indicated that, in addition to discussing the 2027 election outlook, both men praised Governor Bala Mohammed’s efforts to strengthen the PDP and shift it away from a culture of betrayal that persisted from 2013 through 2023.
“The former President re-echoed his concerns about betrayals. He was not happy that some politicians derive pleasure in creating false narratives just to feather their political caps. He expressed relief that a former Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, is being approached to preside over the affairs of the PDP,” the source said.
