ABUJA — In a high-stakes move to bypass what they describe as “state-sponsored destabilisation,” leaders of the opposition coalition have designated the Action Peoples Party (APP) as their official “Plan B” political vehicle. This strategic pivot comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues to withhold recognition from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership, a move the opposition claims is a deliberate attempt by the Tinubu administration to stifle dissent.
The development was confirmed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who warned that while the ADC was the initial choice for the broad coalition, a backup party is already fully prepared. El-Rufai stated that the government might try to use its power to destabilise the ADC, but insisted they have another party prepared on the side which the authorities cannot touch. He declared that the coalition is ready to defeat the current administration in the 2027 election regardless of the hurdles placed in their path.
The Action Peoples Party (APP) has suddenly become the focal point of intense political consultations across the country. High-profile figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, have been spotted in frequent meetings with APP stakeholders and other coalition leaders. Although officially still associated with their respective platforms, Obi’s presence at these high-level consultations in Abuja and Kaduna has fueled reports that he is a central pillar of this emergency alliance. Atiku Abubakar has similarly shifted his focus toward the APP fallback plan, having recently pledged to support any credible candidate the coalition produces as Nigerians are being “pushed to the wall” by economic hardship.
The urgency for this Plan B intensified after INEC resolved to stop monitoring ADC activities, citing a March 12 Court of Appeal order. The ADC has countered this by returning to the Federal High Court, where it will ask Justice Emeka Nwite to dismiss a rival suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe on Tuesday, April 7. The party’s defense relies on Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, which explicitly bars courts from entertaining matters related to the internal affairs of political parties. If the court refuses to dismiss the case or if the legal vacuum persists, coalition leaders are expected to activate the APP as their official 2027 platform to avoid being disqualified by ongoing litigation.
The shift to the APP is being framed by coalition leaders not as a move of desperation, but as a proactive rescue mission. With the APP already intensifying its membership drive and structure-building across several states, the stage is set for a massive political realignment. The opposition appears determined to ensure that even if the federal government suppresses the ADC, the movement for change will simply move to a new house. The “open game” of 2027 has officially moved beyond the ADC, as the coalition prepares to fight on multiple fronts to ensure the will of the people is not silenced by bureaucratic sabotage.
