The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been urged to emulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the ruling party was in the opposition in its prime in 2014.
Omotayo Yusuf, a political commentator, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, made the call, stating that the ADC can become the leading opposition if the party can look into three things.
The ADC has been told to prioritise grassroot, unity and leadership.
ADC urged to prioritise leadership, unity and grassroots mobilisation
2027 elections: Analyst advises ADC
Yusuf stressed that the egos within the new opposition party must be managed, and its political bigwigs must submit themselves to a single leadership just as President Bola Tinubu and other political bigwigs submitted themselves to late Muhammadu Buhari when the APC was first formed.
He also said that the party needed to annex the political bigwigs and promote unity among them. Lastly, he advised that the ADC should focus on mobilising at the grassroots rather than focusing on elections.
The ADC was adopted as the coalition party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The coalition was started by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had been calling on the opposition members to come together in the bid to stop the second-term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
The ADC has been advised on what to do to become a major opposition party in Nigeria.
ADC told how to become a major opposition party in Nigeria
Speaking the development, Yusuf said:
“Is the ADC becoming a major opposition? Yes, it is possible, but a number of factors have to come into play before that can be achieved.
“First, a lot of the egos have to be managed and concentrated into a single leadership. What makes APC successful is the fact that despite the political bigwigs that came together, Atiku, Tinubu and a host of other political giants, they all submitted to the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari, and that gave the coalition a strong union.
“For the ADC, for you to be a major opposition, you need to annex this big leadership, concentrate and support. For now, it is still fragmented along the Obidient, Aticulated, Amaechi lines and disgruntled former APC members who are temporarily using the party until they get call up for appointments by the APC. It is too fragmented, and it does not reflect the ready party.
“Also, for you to be a major opposition, the party has to focus on the grassroots, not electioneering alone. For now, I think most of the work the party is doing is still on social media, rather than the grassroots where they’re supposed to meet, speak and engage with the electorate. I am not seeing that happen.
