The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is at a crossroads as it prepares to serve as the political platform for a coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. However, this development has exposed fault lines within the party.
Okay.ng reports that the ADC recently amended its constitution to grant equal rights and privileges to incoming members, a move designed to facilitate the integration of prominent defectors. This amendment, however, has met with mixed reactions from state party officials.
Some leaders, such as Ogun State’s Dr. Femi Soluade, acknowledge the necessity of restructuring. He explained, “There has been realignment, re-engineering and, of course, repositioning of the party right from the National Chairman, Secretary and some other national officers to make the coalition work.” Similarly, Rivers State Chairman Lawrence Egbagiri affirmed their readiness to relinquish offices “for the sake of the country.”
Conversely, others like Osun State Chairman Charles Omidiji resist full displacement, stating, “Why would anyone come into the party and displace us?. It will be shared equally.” Plateau State’s Sabiu Musa also emphasized that new members should contest leadership positions through proper party congresses rather than immediate takeover.
Founded in 2005, the ADC has historically been a minor player but gained prominence as the coalition sought a platform after the Social Democratic Party (SDP) declined to merge or be taken over. National Chairman Ralph Nwosu confirmed the constitutional amendments were made to accommodate the coalition’s interests, noting, “Previously, our constitution stated that you had to wait for two years if you were interested in contesting the presidency after joining the ADC. But we have amended that.”
The ADC’s symbol, a handshake, was highlighted by Kano State Chairman Musa Ungogo as representing unity: “We cannot turn away people of high calibre who want to join us.”
While some embrace the coalition’s promise, others warn that forced leadership changes could lead to internal discord, as noted by South-East Vice Chairman Chilos Godsent, who cautioned against undemocratic impositions.
As the ADC navigates these internal tensions, its role as the anti-Tinubu coalition’s platform will be pivotal in Nigeria’s political dynamics leading up to 2027.
