By Headlinenews.News Political Analysis Desk
July 3, 2025 | Abuja
A Coalition or a Con?
As Nigeria braces for the 2027 general elections, a political storm is brewing over attempts by aging political actors to form a so-called “grand opposition coalition” to unseat President Bola Tinubu. However, this coalition is facing a sharp rebuke not just from ruling party loyalists, but also from within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) itself.
Dr. Mani Kachikwu, a prominent figure in the ADC, has boldly declared that members of this emerging coalition are “enemies of Nigeria” whose return to power would take the country backwards. According to him, their motive is not reform but revenge, not rebuilding Nigeria but restoring a corrupt old order under new packaging.
“They had their chance and failed. Now they’re regrouping for self-preservation. This isn’t about the people. It’s about power, privilege, and plunder,”
— Dr. Mani Kachikwu, ADC Chieftain
Déjà Vu: The 2019 Coalition Failure and ADC’s Troubling Trajectory
This is not the first time the ADC has been used as a political vehicle-for-hire by elite coalitions.
In 2019, a similar coalition formed under the banner of “Third Force” adopted the ADC as its platform in a bid to unseat then-President Muhammadu Buhari. That movement, composed of ex-generals, retired diplomats, and aggrieved politicians, collapsed under the weight of its contradictions—no shared ideology, no grassroots base, and no coherent leadership.
Observers now warn that history is repeating itself, with the ADC once again being positioned as a rented platform for discredited politicians seeking to reinvent themselves.
“The ADC is developing a reputation as an amphibious political vessel—floating between coalitions and cabals, not people and policies,” said Ayo Daramola, political analyst.
From Political Party to Political Brokerage: A National Disgrace?
In recent years, the ADC has shown more interest in platform leasing than in building democratic institutions or deepening civic engagement. Many believe its pattern of short-lived alliances and frequent leadership crises are symptom of a party that lacks internal discipline and ideological direction.
There is a growing consensus that:
- The ADC is no longer interested in participatory democracy but rather in transactional politics.
- Its recent internal crisis, surrounding the appointment of Rauf Aregbesola as interim secretary without due process, is further evidence of the party’s internal collapse.
- Given these repeated breaches, critics are now calling for stringent institutional action.
Calls for Proscription and INEC Reform Grow Louder
Several political commentators, civil society leaders, and governance experts are calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately investigate and sanction the ADC and to reconsider the proliferation of political parties in Nigeria.
“INEC must act decisively. Political parties cannot be auction houses for the highest bidder. The ADC should be deregistered to protect the sanctity of our democracy.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, Governance & Perception Management Consultant
The call comes amid news that over 110 new political groups have applied for registration with INEC. Many of these entities have no grassroots presence, ideological clarity, or credible leadership. Instead, they exist solely to trade endorsements, negotiate mergers, or sell party tickets during election cycles.
This unchecked proliferation undermines:
- Electoral clarity for voters
- Policy-driven debate
- The legitimacy of democratic opposition
“This is how Peter Obi destabilized the Labour Party in 2022—entering late, overrunning internal structures, and leaving behind factional ruins. We must learn from history.”
— Prof. Dauda Iliyasu, public affairs commentator
Policy Proposal: Six-Party Limit for National Stability
- Analysts are now proposing a radical reform: limit Nigeria’s political parties to six, based on:
- Demonstrated national followership
- Electoral performance at the state and national levels
- Internal democracy and structural stability
- Such a reform, if adopted by INEC and backed by legislation, would:
- Prevent political prostitution
- Strengthen ideological clarity
- Simplify the electoral process
- Deepen political accountability
Conclusion: Reform or Ruin?
Dr. Kachikwu’s scathing remarks have sparked a deeper conversation about the future of Nigeria’s political architecture. The ADC’s descent from a reform-minded platform to a coalition conduit is emblematic of a broader dysfunction within opposition politics.
Without urgent intervention by INEC and stronger regulatory oversight, Nigeria risks allowing its democratic system to be hijacked by rented alliances, elite nostalgia, and political opportunism, instead of being built by vision, merit, and popular participation.
Notable Quotes
“You cannot move Nigeria forward by returning to the same leaders who reversed its progress.”
— Dr. Mani Kachikwu, ADC Chieftain
“The ADC has become a floating shell—available for rent, devoid of resolve.”
— Ayo Daramola, Political Analyst
“Nigeria’s electoral system is not a marketplace. We must deregister parties with no base, no policy, and no purpose.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, Governance Consultant
“The lesson of Labour Party under Peter Obi must guide us—no party should be hijacked without consequence.”
— Prof. Dauda Iliyasu, Political Scientist
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By Imran Khazaly, Senior Political Correspondent
