David Mark ADC faction holds talks with Turaki-led PDP in Abuja

A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark is meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki in Abuja.

The meeting comes amid the leadership crises rocking both opposition parties.

Those attending the sit-down on Mark’s side include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano; Aminu Tambuwal, senator representing Sokoto south; Abubakar Malami, ex-minister of justice; Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation; and Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023.

On Turaki’s side are Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo; Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger state; Jerry Gana, former minister of information; and Adolphus Wabara, former senate president.

TheCable understands that the meeting is aimed at exploring possible alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.

Since July 2025, when an opposition coalition took over the ADC’s leadership, the party has been embroiled in internal disputes, with Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman, alleging that Mark was illegally appointed as the national chairman.

The crisis escalated last week when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) derecognised the Mark-led leadership.

The electoral body said it would refrain from engaging with Mark’s leadership and Bala faction, citing the March 12 judgement of the court of appeal.

The commission said it would not attend meetings, congresses, or conventions of the groups pending the determination of a case before the federal high court.

On Tuesday, the ADC State Chairmen Forum rejected the party’s factions led by David and Bala.

The forum announced an interim committee to oversee the party’s activities pending a national convention.

Meanwhile, the PDP is polarised into two factions.

In March, the faction backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), elected Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu as the national chairman and secretary, respectively.

The Turaki-led PDP had asked the supreme court to restrain the Wike camp from holding the elective national convention.