Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has explained why prominent opposition leaders, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, have not formally left their parties even though they have joined the new ADC coalition.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show Thursday, Abdullahi reportedly gave the reason, pointing out that a number of well-known politicians are presently participating in ongoing electoral processes that are planned in advance of the general elections in 2027.
“The former governor and his political group are currently supporting candidates running under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and have already purchased nomination forms on that platform,” Abdullahi said, citing Nasir El-Rufai in particular.
According to Abdullahi, “these parties are involved in elections that are happening before 2027, and individuals like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai have his group involved in those elections.” As a result, they purchased forms on those parties’ platforms.
Thus, it makes sense to let them contest based on those parties’ arguments. And after they’ve finished that, everyone is, in theory, in ADC.
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Regardless of their present affiliations, Abdullahi maintained that the coalition’s goal is to keep Nigeria from devolving into what he called a “one-party civilian dictatorship.”
“It is evident to us what we are doing,” he remarked. This coalition includes everyone who thinks Nigeria cannot be boiled down to a one-party state.
“Anyone can start to complain about all of this if they disagree with the idea that we should watch and let Nigeria turn into a one-party civil dictatorship.”
Despite acknowledging that the coalition’s road to 2027 would be paved with difficulties, the former minister insisted that the team was ready for the task.
We don’t anticipate a smooth ride. We anticipate certain challenges, but we are prepared to face them head-on,” he remarked.
