2027 Elections: ADC Under Pressure as El-Rufai Arrest, Campaign Fee Row and FCT Defeat Shake Opposition

As political permutations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is confronting mounting turbulence that could define its survival as a viable opposition platform.

The party, which some political stakeholders had projected as a possible rallying point for dissatisfied blocs across Nigeria’s political spectrum, now faces electoral setbacks, internal strains, regulatory pressures and leadership controversies that have complicated its 2027 calculations.

From disappointing performances in the Federal Capital Territory to high profile arrests and fresh legislative concerns, developments surrounding the ADC signal a steep and uncertain road toward the next general elections.

FCT Elections Expose Structural Gaps

PulseNets learned that the recent FCT area council elections revealed operational weaknesses within the ADC’s political structure. Despite extensive media engagement and campaign visibility across Abuja, the party failed to convert exposure into measurable electoral victories.

Findings obtained by PulseNets indicate that for a party positioning itself as a credible alternative to dominant political forces, the FCT outcome represents an early stress test.

Political analysts who spoke to PulseNets argued that while the ADC attempted to brand itself as a reform oriented platform, its grassroots mobilization and coalition architecture appeared insufficient.

Observers had earlier viewed the Abuja council elections as a litmus test for the party’s readiness ahead of 2027. However, the final results raised questions about organizational depth, voter penetration and strategic alignment.

Reacting to the outcome, veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, criticised the ADC’s inability to translate campaign efforts into votes during the FCT elections.

Speaking on Morning Show on Arise Television, Abati said the results demonstrated that political parties must urgently reassess their strategies ahead of future polls.

“We just hope that all the stakeholders, including the ADC that put up shows in Abuja and got nothing, will learn from this and all the parties will strategize.

“What that will imply in the future is something we cannot say,” Abati said.

Similarly, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, criticised opposition actors for what he described as disorganization.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Odinkalu said the opposition failed to demonstrate seriousness at a critical political moment.

“It’s difficult to speak to the ineptitude of political opposition in Nigeria. They are not serious.

“And I think anybody who looks at the system, has got to say at the moment, there is absolutely no opposition,” Odinkalu said.

El-Rufai’s Arrest Deepens Political Tension

The political atmosphere further intensified following the arrest and detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, by agencies including the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Department of State Services.

While the ruling All Progressives Congress maintains that investigations are routine and institutional, opposition figures have characterised the development as politically sensitive, especially in the context of 2027 alignments.

PulseNets gathered that El-Rufai is widely regarded within ADC circles as a strategic figure capable of exerting pressure on President Bola Tinubu ahead of his anticipated re election bid.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar warned that El-Rufai’s health and welfare remain matters of grave concern after reports emerged that he suffered a nosebleed while in detention.

In a statement posted on X and obtained by PulseNets, Atiku said the Federal Government must guarantee his safety.

“the government has a constitutional duty to guarantee El-Rufai’s safety, dignity, access to medical care, and access to his family and legal representatives.

“Reports that he suffered a nosebleed while family members were allegedly denied access are deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democracy.

“If the authorities cannot guarantee his health and fundamental rights, the lawful and humane course of action is to grant him bail without delay. If anything happens to El-Rufai, this government will be held accountable.”

PulseNets also learnt that former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, another ADC chieftain, was earlier arrested and detained by the EFCC, further unsettling party leadership.

Enugu N150 Million Campaign Permit Controversy

In Enugu State, debate intensified after the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency announced a mandatory N150 million permit fee for political campaign advertising ahead of the 2026 and 2027 elections.

The policy, introduced under Governor Peter Mbah, has been defended as a regulatory mechanism to ensure compliance with advertising standards.

However, the Enugu chapter of the ADC rejected the fee, describing it as unlawful and unconstitutional. In a statement signed by Paul Anigbogu and obtained by PulseNets, the party accused the ruling APC in the state of weaponizing regulatory frameworks to sideline opposition actors.

“We totally reject this fee and will not hesitate to challenge it in court, if the state government fails to rescind the illegal and unconstitutional financial obstruction placed on the way of political parties and candidates vying for local government election and general elections in Enugu State,” the statement read.

Alleged Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Tension escalated after reports surfaced of an alleged assassination attempt on former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, confirmed the incident in a statement issued from Abuja and obtained by PulseNets.

According to Tanko, armed men trailed the group from the ADC Secretariat to the private residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in Benin, Edo State, where shots were fired at the gate and vehicles within the compound.

“Peter Obi and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State.

“They shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appears to be a survived assassination attempt on our lives. Democracy is in danger,” Tanko said wrote.

Supporters subsequently described the development as alarming, citing rising political hostility ahead of 2027.

Electoral Act Amendment Sparks Fresh Debate

The recently signed 2026 Electoral Act amendment has introduced provisions for both manual and electronic transmission of election results.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and obtained by PulseNets, the ADC warned that the allowance for manual transmission could weaken electoral transparency.

“As a duly constituted political party in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, following the actions taken by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, 18th February, the ADC affirms in the strongest and clearest possible terms that we are ready, willing, and prepared to defend the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy using every constitutional and lawful means available to us.

“We will mobilise Nigerians toward vigilance, toward lawful participation, and toward unity in defence of their constitutional rights,” the party stated.

Analyst Says Nigeria Lacks Coordinated Opposition

Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo of Peaceland University, Enugu, told PulseNets that Nigeria presently lacks a structured and coordinated opposition capable of confronting the ruling APC ahead of 2027.

He described the ADC as a developing framework rather than a fully consolidated opposition movement, citing its Abuja performance as an early caution.

“Recent activities in the country have proven what I’ve said somewhere else. There’s no opposition in Nigeria right now.

“Lone voices don’t constitute political opposition. That’s what the likes of Peter Obi are today. An opposition needs force, momentum, coordination.

“ADC is currently a sketch of what an opposition should be. This showed up in the recent Abuja elections. It was an early warning to ADC to put its acts together before 2027.

“The fact that ADC did nothing worthwhile when the lawmakers passed the obviously controversial electoral act amendment tells you that the party still has a long way to go. We all watched what Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker, did, ignoring house members who called for order.

“The members wanted to know what was in the bill, but he kept going. If APC was in the opposition, they’d have besieged the House of Reps.

“They would still be protesting against the passage of the electoral act. They would be in CNN and BBC, narrating how the ruling party has perfected a means to glitch’ 2027 election.

“But ADC is not doing any of that. It feels like ADC hasn’t really formed into a single united body. They don’t seem yet to know what to agree on. The leaders don’t seem to trust each other. It seems they all have one leg in and one leg out.

“And APC understands this. I once predicted that the PDP would die before the 2027 election. It’s almost done. My only shocker is that of LP, which didn’t truly survive the scourge of Lamidi Apapa.

“A similar scourge seems to await ADC. And I saw the fingers of the ruling party in the ailment of LP. I also see their fingers in the jaundiced stand of ADC.

“The continued gulping of the opposition by the ruling party, through whatever strategy, is dangerous to our nascent democracy. You can’t make every elected leader jump over to the ruling party.

“The members of the legislature, the primary arm of the government, responsible for checking the excesses of the executive, singing the sycophantic anthem of the president, on the floor of legislation, in place of the National Anthem, it’s absurd and anti-democratic.

Also Read: ADC: Kenneth Okonkwo Labels Non-Joining Obidients ‘Disobedient’ After Peter Obi’s Defection

“Oppositionsim is an ideal that goes beyond the quest to takeover power. We need structured opposition back for sanity to return to governance in Nigeria.”

As 2027 approaches, developments surrounding the African Democratic Congress, including electoral setbacks, leadership detentions, regulatory disputes and legislative controversies, will continue to shape Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape and the broader democratic contest.