Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has disclosed that opposition leaders have applied to register a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He told Arise TV that the move stems from concerns over the “infiltration” of existing parties by government-backed actors.
El-Rufai said coalition strategists decided early to pursue two parallel tracks: identifying a suitable existing platform and, at the same time, establishing a fresh party free of “legacy issues or infiltrations.”
“A brand-new party doesn’t come with legacy issues or infiltrations,” he explained. “This government has injected ‘viruses’ into the Labour Party, PDP and NNPP—financing factions and creating internal crises. Many leaders believe the best way to avoid that is to start afresh.”
The former governor framed the ADA’s formation squarely as a bid to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. El-Rufai also expressed regret for having supported Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid, saying that the current administration has fallen short on security and economic performance.
Since leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP), El-Rufai has been vocal in his critique of the presidency. He noted that after Tinubu’s May 29, 2023 inauguration, he was nominated for a federal cabinet post, but the Senate refused to confirm him, reportedly citing an adverse Department of State Services security report.
Last week’s ADA application was submitted jointly by El-Rufai, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures. El-Rufai reiterated in his Sunday-night interview that allowing President Tinubu a second term would be unacceptable.
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