2027: ADC, Others Plan Mega Party

By Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis and Abdulrahman Zakariyau

The Africa Democratic Congress has said it is entering into a merger with other political parties in the country with a view to mounting a common front to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress from power in 2027.

The National Chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Nwosu said the APC had failed and plunged Nigeria into crisis, adding that the opposition would not sit idle and watch the alleged downward spiral of the nation.

Nwosu catalogued the alleged failure of President Bola Tinubu administration and rated the government low on all fronts.

He said, “The state of the nation is nothing to talk about. It is saddening and arouses morbid fear. Therefore, instead of wasting our time engaging in futile debates with those in government, we should continue to strategise on ways to develop a new political system and come together to create a collaborative, value-driven ecosystem that prioritises our people and country.

“We certainly need a new beginning. Pointing fingers of recrimination is not what transformational leaders do,” he said, adding that 22 political parties had joined hands with the ADC to build a new mega party.

“We have resolved to work with all political leaders that appreciate the need for coming together for a new Nigeria.

“We discriminate against none; our commitment is a new Nigeria that will lead our dear continent out of its present abyss.”

The APC, which dislodged the Peoples Democratic Party from power in 2015, is a product of a merger of opposition forces.

The Independent National Electoral Commission accredited 18 political parties in Nigeria, all of which participated in the 2023 elections.

Following the notable impact of major opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and the New Nigeria People’s Party in the last election, observers contend that had the opposition united before the election, they could have ousted the All Progressives Congress.

Consequently, Prof. Pat Utomi, and more recently the ADC had contemplated the formation of a mega party to dislodge the APC in 2027.

Reacting, the APC  dismissed the threat of a merger of opposition parties displacing the ruling party.

While describing the ADC as an obscure party struggling for relevance, the Senior Special Assitant Assistant to the APC National Chairman on Public Enlightenment, Chief Oliver Okpala, “Did you hear them mention the name of any credible party? They were just talking about the assemblage of 22 political parties. Which parties are they? Remember that the APC is a merger of recognisable political parties and their names were, of course, mentioned during the merger process.

“But the ADC as a party has no followership and has not won any single election in this country. So how they now be talking about a merger? Which party will follow them? This is because when you come out as a leader of a political platform, you will need a merger of other relevant parties. Again, you must be in control of some states in order to have what we call political relevance and credibility.

“In the event that you don’t control any state and don’t even have members in the National or State Assembly, who will follow you? That is why I said they are political philosophers who have just propounded some theories. Even if they are 50, the APC is not threatened or moved by their action. It is a very solid party under the effective leadership of President Bola Tinubu and Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. All the important people that matter have defected to the APC,”

Source: The Punch