A long-standing confidant of APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has left the ruling party to join the opposition New Nigeria’s People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano.

Mustapha Hamza Buhari Bakwana, a well-known grassroots mobilizer and former political adviser to Ganduje during his tenure as governor officially joined the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) on Wednesday.

This means he has also dumped his role as Senior Legislative Aide to Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibril.

Standing before his loyal supporters in Kano, said, “We gave everything to the APC — time, loyalty, sweat. But what did we get in return? Silence, neglect and betrayal. Enough is enough,” he said.

“We’ve chosen to pitch our tent with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a man who doesn’t forget his people. He understands the game of politics and plays it with honor.”

Once seen as one of Ganduje’s most trusted strategists in the North West, Bakwana’s departure could signal deeper cracks in the party’s foundations especially as the 2027 elections draws nearer.

Two political associations with the same acronym —ADA—are among the 110 groups jostling for official party registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The development has stirred confusion within political circles, raising questions about party identity and strategic positioning in the coming electoral contest.

One of the groups, All Democratic Alliance (ADA), is being promoted by Chief Akin Ricketts. It is believed to be one of the anti-Tinubu coalition’s special purpose vehicles ahead of 2027.

On INEC’s published list, this ADA is number 109.

But right behind it, at number 110, is another ADA: the Advanced Democratic Alliance, with Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman as its protem chairman and Zipporah Pius Miracles as secretary.

Despite sharing the same acronym, the two groups have completely different leadership and headquarters. Ricketts’ ADA is based at UAC Complex, Samuel Ademulegun Street, Central Business District, Abuja, while Suleiman’s ADA operates from Frandriance Close, off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

With 110 political associations now formally applying for party status, INEC will have its hands full vetting not just the legality of these entities, but also their identities and public clarity.

There is currently a cloud of confusion over the future of the coalition being championed by a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State stand in the adoption of the opposition coalition.

This is amid the recent announcement of the proposed All Democratic Alliance, ADA, which is still awaiting registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Other members of the coalition include former Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Senate President, David Mark, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, among others.

The coalition, according to El-Rufai, was set up basically to remove Tinubu from power in 2027.

In line with this, there has been discussion surrounding the adoption of a political party as the coalition’s official vehicle.

The National Opposition Coalition Group, NOCG, had officially written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to seek approval for the registration of ADA.

The letter dated June 19 was signed by the association’s Protem National Chairman, Chief Akin A. Rickets, and Protem National Secretary, Abdullahi Elayo.

Some Nigerians believed that if officially registered, ADA will be the official party that would launch the opposition coalition.

Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam described ADA as the baptismal name for the coalition, stressing that it has no excuse to underperform if it is registered and eventually finds its way into power in 2027.

He said: “The coalition is finally here under the baptismal name of All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

“I am indifferent as to whether it will truly provide the needed democratic leadership, if voted into power.

“It is now beyond argument that Nigeria is unfortunate with leadership. Nevertheless, the ADA must be warned at the earliest time that any administration that performs less than the current administration will bring Nigeria to a dead end as Nigerians will not survive any hardship beyond the one currently offered by President Tinubu.

“Whatever is going to be their excuse for underperformance should they win the 2027 election must be stated now.

“There should be a limit to excuses for underperformance. Enough has been given already.”

But the INEC on Tuesday said ADA can’t be registered now because it is yet to meet the recommended requirement.

Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee disclosed this in Abuja.

In May, reports were rife that the coalition had adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as its official party and that stakeholders had established committees tasked with further details in this regard.

But it was later revealed that the report of ADC’s adoption as the coalition’s official party was false.

Shedding light on the confusion surrounding the coalition’s adoption of a political party, El-Rufai, in an interview on Arise Television, said the coalition was yet to adopt a political party, stressing that he is still advocating that the movement should adopt the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

“I strongly believe that the SDP is the best platform for a coalition; its history, its legacy, its sentimental value, and everything about it are almost perfect, the name, the logo, and I’m advocating for that among my colleagues,” El-Rufai said.

But, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy, Demola Olarenwaju, had distanced the former Vice President and his group from the coalition and adoption of ADA, noting that the group still has issues to sort out.

However, a highly placed anonymous source close to Atiku said the coalition was not that of the former Vice President.

When Ekwutosblog reached out to him for clarification on Atiku’s involvement in the coalition and adoption of ADA, he said: “Who is doing the distancing, what is happening is that we are going ahead of them. Has the coalition spoken about ADA or any other party?

“If they have not, it’s clear to everyone that it might not be their direction. You know how politics is, at times they could be trafficating left while going right.

“You want to be able to confound and confuse your opponent, they have not spoken. Why don’t we wait for them, this week is going to be very crucial one for the coalition.

“I believe they are going to speak about their direction, they are winding up, I think there is a meeting, I am not very sure but it will wrap up all the process, so let’s wait for them.

“Let’s not force ADA or Adaobi – those are social media creation.

“The media is also helping these APC people to define it as Atiku’s coalition, its opposition coalition and not Atiku’s coalition.

“When you reduce it to Atiku, what you are doing is that you are intentionally trying to create bad blood between the coalition partners.

“From a strategic point of view, you are not helping him by making it about him, you are not helping the course, except if you want this situation we are in now to persist. So let’s enjoy the breakfast as social media people will say.”