The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, says the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is deliberately creating a false narrative that the 2027 general election has already been won, insisting that Nigerians still have a credible alternative.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Abdullahi said the notion that the 2027 election is already decided is exactly the mindset the ruling party wants to create. “2027 election appeared to have been won and lost. That’s exactly the mindset of inevitability that the ruling party would like to create, to create a situation where everyone will think that there’s nothing we can do and no matter what we do they are going to win anyway.”
He recalled Nigeria’s recent political history, noting that even overwhelming control of state governments does not guarantee election victories. “As recently as 2007 PDP controlled I think 31 states out of 36, leaving only maybe four states in the north and Lagos state. But you recall that the election of 2027 still had to be heavily rigged. It was one of the most discredited elections in Nigerian history. In 2011 it’s the same thing. Despite the overwhelming control that the PDP had across the country, they still had to massively rig those elections by popular reports. So what we are saying is just a case of history repeating itself.”
Abdullahi dismissed concerns about ADC’s lack of governors, emphasising that many politicians join the ruling party out of convenience rather than conviction. “It takes conviction. It takes character. It takes courage. It takes belief in the nation itself for you to join the opposition party even while you are a sitting governor. That’s what this individual lacks. It’s easy for them to go and join the ruling party. We are not bothered about that.”
He stressed that the party’s strength comes from grassroots support and the willingness of Nigerians to seek a genuine alternative. “But what about the people? Will they be able to convince the people that they actually represent the best option for them? That is the task that they will not be able to do because every Nigerian today understands what’s going on. No amount of whitewashing can remove the reality that Nigerians are confronted with. And that is where ADC’s strength comes from, to continue to appeal to the people, to continue to position ourselves as the only alternative to the ruling party and what they have done to Nigerians in the last three and a half years or so.”
Abdullahi also highlighted ADC’s rapid organizational expansion. “That’s the 28 states headquarters that ADC will be unveiling within five months that we are in power and we have come on board as an opposition political party without a single political officeholder, propelled only by the enthusiasm of Nigerians who are committed to seeing democracy survive in the country.”
On comparisons with other third-force parties, he stated that ADC is already overtaking the PDP as the main opposition. “But the most important thing that we have to underline here is that they did not just happen. The ruling party, APC, had done everything to destabilise opposition party. In the first place, ADC has come about because of the non-viability of these other political parties. But the destabilisation of PDP, the destabilisation of the Liberal Party, the destabilisation of SDP is what has led the politicians in these respective parties to find refuge in the African Democratic Congress. If we are not careful, if we don’t build an alternative political platform, then Nigeria is inevitably leading towards a one-party state.”
Abdullahi criticised the APC’s strategy to weaken opposition parties while presenting itself as a defender of democracy abroad. “They are actively undermining opposition political parties in Nigeria while posturing as a savior of democracy in the region. That is not hypocrisy. If that is not hypocrisy, then what it is? Even as we sit here, as we have this conversation this morning, they are not letting go. They still continue to bring one obstacle or one legal issue or the other even against the African Democratic Congress.”
He warned that internal dynamics within ADC, particularly the involvement of high-profile figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, present both challenges and opportunities. “I said Obi-Atiku conundrum in the ADC is the greatest threat to Nigerian democracy. Analyse and make your inferences, sir. Well, I mean, I may not describe the situation in such superlative terms to say that the greatest threat to democracy at the moment, but is it a conundrum? Yes. Is it a challenge? Yes. Is this something we are concerned about? Yes. We have also tried to maintain that it’s not just about Atiku and Peter Obi, Nobody in the ADC at this time is having a conversation about who the presidential candidates will be, because like you rightly noted, we are more or less, relatively speaking, or in the context of where we have come from, a new political party. So we have so much work to do to establish our presence, real presence, to be in a position to contest election in all the 36 states of the Federation and FCT.”
He also addressed fears that ADC might be seen merely as a “vehicle” for political ambitions. “So this has preoccupied us in the last couple of months, but we know that is an issue we have to deal with.”
Abdullahi concluded by reiterating ADC’s commitment to presenting a credible, people-driven alternative. “that is where ADC’s strength comes from, to continue to appeal to the people, to continue to position ourselves as the only alternative to the ruling party and what they have done to Nigerians in the last three and a half years or so.”
“So we have so much work to do to establish our presence, real presence, to be in a position to contest election in all the 36 states of the Federation and FCT.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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