The National Chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Bishop Amakiri, has launched a scathing attack on the recently formed opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing the group’s leadership of past governance failures and political insincerity.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Amakiri stated that a significant majority of those at the helm of the coalition have already been tested in government and failed to deliver on the promises they made to Nigerians. He questioned their credibility and motive, suggesting that the coalition was nothing more than a gathering of political actors desperate to return to power.

“I have a problem with the composition of that coalition,” Amakiri said. “Almost 85 percent of the people in that coalition are individuals who have failed Nigerians before. They do not have the moral justification to talk about saving this country. What we are facing now is a national emergency, and the country needs a true substitution in political leadership—not recycled faces.”

The ADC coalition, which recently held a high-profile meeting in Abuja, features a number of prominent political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Ministers Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai, among others. The coalition announced its adoption of the ADC as the political vehicle it intends to use in challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

The interim leadership of the coalition includes David Mark as chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as secretary. Supporters of the new alliance have hailed it as a necessary consolidation of political strength by Nigeria’s opposition, but critics such as Amakiri believe it lacks credibility and originality.

He accused the coalition of being a power-hungry formation of career politicians who have rotated through various offices over the years with little to show for it. According to him, the movement is not anchored on any real ideological shift or reform agenda but rather a continuation of the same old political establishment under a new banner.

“The country is in dire need of visionary leadership,” Amakiri added. “Nigerians are tired. The time has come for younger, forward-looking, and people-oriented political leaders to emerge—not the same old actors who contributed to the nation’s present challenges.”

His comments come amid growing public skepticism about the viability of coalitions in Nigeria’s political landscape, especially those perceived as platforms for disenchanted politicians seeking a route back to relevance.

Though the ADC coalition is yet to formally respond to Amakiri’s remarks, insiders within the alliance say consultations are ongoing to refine its leadership and strategy. They maintain that the coalition remains open to all Nigerians committed to change, regardless of their political history.

As political realignments continue in the build-up to the 2027 elections, the friction between established political figures and emerging party leaders like Amakiri is likely to intensify—setting the stage for a heated contest over who truly represents the future of Nigerian democracy.