“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition is attempting to emulate the successful 2013 merger that gave rise to the ruling party,” the All Progressives Congress (APC) said.
The APC rejected the coalition, arguing that it could not be compared to a strategic political merger that occurred in 2013, when the late Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change, Atiku Abubakar’s New PDP, and the now-defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, led by Bola Tinubu, united to form the APC.
In a Punch interview, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East) Ijeoma Arodiogbu called the alliance “a coalition of strange bedfellows” that lacked the depth, structure, and strategy that helped the APC come to power more than ten years ago.
“Why is it that people relocating to the ADC should worry us? Who are these people, tell me? “There’s nothing to be concerned about unless our major leaders, APC governors, or lawmakers are defecting,” he said.
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He contended that Tinubu’s years of political mentoring and the formation of strategic alliances, supported by Buhari’s mass appeal of more than 12 million devoted voters in the north, were what made the 2013 merger so strong.
On the other hand, he claimed, the ADC was just a collection of disgruntled politicians who lacked an electoral base or ideological ties.
They’re merely attempting to emulate our actions. People all throughout the country were developed and nurtured by Tinubu. Legislators and governors were drawn to him due to his reputation and vision. “What they’re doing right now is desperate to seize power; it’s not strategic,” Arodiogbu stated.
The majority of people joining the ADC, he added, are internally displaced PDP and Labour Party politicians who were unable to find purpose in their previous platforms.
In contrast, the APC is gaining more governors and lawmakers every day. More people are openly declaring for us, even on the parliamentary floor.
The leader of the APC also made fun of Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, implying that his support for the ADC was a result of his own resentment at not being included in Tinubu’s cabinet.
“Should we even be discussing people like El-Rufai?” he asked. His sole complaint is that he was not appointed as a minister. That’s entitlement, not ideology. Who else in that coalition is worthy of our attention besides him?
Further highlighting Tinubu’s economic vision and reform agenda, Arodiogbu emphasized the President’s continued commitment to redressing historical excesses and safeguarding Nigeria’s financial future.
“We cannot stick to the old ways,” President Tinubu stated when he took office. He is committed to getting rid of waste and leaks. That’s how we differ from those posing as an alternative,” he said.
