Debates concerning whether Nigerians can trust the new alliance have been triggered by the establishment of the ADC coalition; some have questioned whether it is just “same faces, new platform.” Similar alliances, like the APC’s merger of the CPC, ACN, and ANPP, have proven successful in the past; yet, other alliances have failed because of underlying conflicts and mistrust. Will the ADC alliance face the same difficulties that have beset earlier coalitions, or can it demonstrate that it is different?
A prevalent element in Nigerian politics has been the building of coalitions, where powerful leaders and members of different political parties band together to accomplish shared objectives. The All Progressives Congress (APC) was created in 2013 as a consequence of a merger of several political parties, including Tinubu’s ACN, former President Buhari’s CPC, ANPP, and a PDP group headed by well-known politicians including Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Bukola Saraki, and Rotimi Amaechi. After Goodluck Jonathan fell to former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2015, the PDP’s 16-year dominance came to an end thanks in large part to this coalition.
Three main factions came together to form the All Progressives Congress (APC): Ogbonnaya Onu’s All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which is renowned for its strong regional presence and mobilization efforts; Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which was founded in 2006 by Muhammadu Buhari and his political allies and was originally known as The Buhari Organization (TBO); and Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
Among the politicians that joined the APC were Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Abubakar Malami SAN, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola. These people rose to prominence in the Buhari administration and influenced the policies and course of the nation. But as time went on, a few of these people defected from the APC and joined other parties, such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and the PDP’s presidential contender in the most recent elections, has recently formed a new coalition. Other well-known politicians are part of this coalition, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, former Rivers State Governor and former Buhari administration Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and the founding chairman of the APC, John Oyegun. Beyond gaining power, Nigerians have been questioning the coalition’s intentions.
The main concern of all is if the current ADC coalition differs from the 2014 APC coalition. Can I trust it? Many people believe that it is not a sincere attempt at governance, but rather another illusion, as long as the same faces are involved. There is a worry that this alliance would be more concerned with seizing power than with resolving the country’s issues.
The circumstances surrounding their formation are one of the main distinctions between the ADC alliance today and the APC coalition of 2014. In reaction to the perceived shortcomings of the PDP government, the APC coalition was established to challenge the PDP’s hold on power. However, with the APC currently in power and dealing with its own set of issues, the ADC coalition is being established in a distinct environment.
The coalitions’ makeup represents another distinction. The ADC alliance seems to be primarily made up of those who have previously been members of the APC or other parties, whereas the APC coalition brought together a varied set of lawmakers. This has sparked debate over whether the coalition is actually dedicated to change or is just bringing together old acquaintances.
Although the APC was successful in overthrowing PDP hegemony, it has had many difficulties since taking office. Internal strife has plagued the party, and some of its most important figures have left. The ADC coalition’s ability to accomplish its goals and offer a viable alternative to the APC is still up in the air.
Nigerians must consider the coalition’s policies and dedication to governance in addition to the personalities involved when assessing the ADC coalition’s credibility. Will it be motivated by selfish interests or will it put the needs of Nigerians first? We’ll never know until we do.
A national dialogue over the need for new leadership and a new method of governance has been spurred by the formation of the ADC coalition. Nigerians are keen to see if this coalition can fulfill its commitments and offer the nation a brighter future.
The ADC coalition’s capacity to relate to Nigerians and show a sincere interest in resolving the country’s issues would ultimately determine its level of success. It might gain the trust of Nigerians and offer a strong substitute for the APC if it can accomplish this. But if it doesn’t work, it might be dismissed as just another delusion, and Nigerians might still have to put up with bad leadership.
In order to tackle urgent national concerns like social welfare, economic growth, and climate change, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) established a grand coalition in Germany in 2018. By bringing together two powerful parties with disparate ideas, this coalition ensured stability and advancement for the nation. They enhanced healthcare services and increased the generation of renewable energy by implementing policies that benefited the general populace through collaborative governance.
Economic reforms and development initiatives in India have been mostly propelled by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, which is headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The NDA has kept a stable government and put policies in place that support social welfare, infrastructural development, and economic progress by uniting different regional parties. Some of the nation’s most urgent issues, like poverty and inequality, have been addressed in part by the coalition’s emphasis on inclusive growth and community involvement.
By emphasizing democracy and community involvement, the ADC alliance in Nigeria can learn from these examples. The coalition needs to show a genuine commitment to giving the people back control of the government and go beyond empty press announcements if it is to win back the confidence of the general public. This can be accomplished through putting in place laws that support accountability, transparency, and inclusivity as well as by making sure that decision-making procedures are participatory and decentralized.
Following the APC’s alleged shortcomings, Nigerians would be wary of putting their faith in another coalition, like the ADC, as they have witnessed the same individuals and interests control both parties. This has caused people to lose faith in these politicians’ capacity to bring about significant change. Nigerians are now distrustful of yet another coalition that may make promises of change but fall short because to the APC’s failure to fulfill its commitments and handle urgent problems like economic stagnation, insecurity, and corruption. The ADC alliance would have to show a distinct departure from the past, a sincere dedication to accountability, transparency, and the well-being of the Nigerian people, as well as a readiness to put the demands of the general populace ahead of the interests of the ruling class, in order to win over trust.
While the ADC coalition seems to be a gathering of well-known figures from different parties, including former APC members, who may be more interested in seizing power due to a combination of ideological, personal, and political interests, the APC was founded as a merger of opposition parties to challenge the PDP’s hold on power, motivated by a desire for change and a need for a new alternative. Their approaches to governance and policymaking may be influenced by these differences in motivation.
Another significant distinction between their beginnings is that the APC was established with a clear set of objectives and organized leadership after a formal merger of multiple organizations, including the ACN, CPC, and ANPP. Nonetheless, the ADC coalition appears to be a loose coalition of people from several parties who are bound together by the desire to overthrow the incumbent government, while they may be split along ideological, interest, and agenda lines. This discrepancy might affect their ability to fulfill commitments, decision-making procedures, and cohesiveness.
While the recently adopted ADC is still fighting an uncured political infection, other parties such as the PDP, NNPP, Labour Party, and SDP are negotiating internal dynamics. The internal issues of the party have become even more complicated as a result of a recent court lawsuit that asked for some factions inside the party to remove the temporary executives.
While opposition parties have persisted in accusing the APC-led government of infiltrating their ranks, the president has insisted that he is powerless to address the problems facing opposition parties since he is a democrat. He has also denied rumors that he is converting Nigeria into a one-party state, reaffirming his support for democracy and letting each party handle its internal problems on its own.
With worries that the ADC coalition would be “same faces, different platforms,” many Nigerians are wondering if they can trust it. Others fear that the ADC’s recent addition of well-known leaders from other parties may be a case of old wine in new bottles rather than a sincere attempt to effect change. The party’s legitimacy and capacity to garner sincere support from Nigerians looking for significant alternatives may be impacted by this impression.
To be successful, the ADC must put unity and group goals ahead of individual interests. By setting aside personal goals and cooperating to achieve a shared objective, the coalition may leverage its many experiences and abilities to create a powerful, unified movement that can oppose the ruling party and bring about constructive change. The coalition runs the risk of breaking up and failing if individual interests take precedence, which would make it more difficult for it to keep its pledges to the Nigerian people.
The public will continue to be skeptical of another alliance of interests until they see concrete proof that power has been returned to them. The ADC needs to establish a new kind of politics that puts the needs and goals of the people ahead of the interests of the ruling class. Although the coalition has a difficult task ahead of it, it also has a chance to influence Nigeria’s destiny and provide the nation a new course. It is unclear if it will be successful or not, but one thing is for sure: Nigerians are keeping a careful eye on it.
