The move of Nigeria’s opposition coalition to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform for the 2027 General election has been rubbished by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and even some members of the ADC as an “old guard coalition”.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that on Wednesday, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were officially made the interim National Chairman and interim National Secretary of the ADC, respectively.
The move came after the National Working Committee of the ADC stepped down from their position to make room for Mark and Aregbesola and other political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, among others.
Reacting, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the move is nothing but an “old guard coalition”, which is seeking political relevance.
Keyamo, in a post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, said the movement has effectively weakened the opposition, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party.
“What happened earlier today with the movement of the so-called “old guard coalition” into the ADC is the greatest factor that has strengthened the APC ahead of the 2027 elections,” he wrote.
Citing legal provisions, the minister said the defectors had essentially abandoned their former political platforms.
He continued: “By law, you cannot operate from, or belong to two or multiple political parties, so it is safe to say that their open declaration for ADC today is a clear abandonment of their previous parties.
“The majority of the old guard in the PDP (who have lost control of the party) have been pushed out of the party by the younger Turks within the PDP.
“That is why the gathering today was a conglomerate of ‘former this’ and ‘former that’ of the PDP.”
Similarly, presidential candidate of the ADC in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, has echoed the “old guard coalition” sentiment, rejecting the adoption of the party by the opposition coalition led by Atiku.
He claimed that the coalition is dealing with the former leadership of the party led by Ralph Nwosu. According to him, the tenure of the Nwosu-led executive of the ADC ended on August 21, 2022.
Kachikwu berated the coalition group, saying that they represent a bad chapter in Nigeria’s past. He, however, said that if they want to join the party, they should do so through the front door.
The statement reads: “It is with the greatest amusement that I watched the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar-led group announce their takeover of the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress. As is expected, I have been inundated with a lot of calls and messages seeking my reaction to the unfolding dramedy.
“Nigerians have watched in amazement as this group of mostly geriatrics shopped around for a party to prosecute their ‘chopping must continue’ ambition.
“This further cements the opinion most hold that political parties in Nigeria stand for nothing and will fall for anything. They have told us that they are fighting for the rights of ordinary Nigerians and that they are on a rescue mission but what is confusing to the Nigerians they want to rescue is that these men made up of a former vice president, former governors, ministers and political office holders are the same people who have presided over the affairs of this nation for the past four decades.
“We have nothing to show for their decades of leadership other than being seen as a nation divided by tribe and religion and thriving in mediocrity. We are a nation lacking in the basics, whose majority are poor, but here we are watching those who set our nation on fire saying they are the fire brigade.
“No, you are not; you are a bunch of greedy and selfish old men who believe that political power is your birthright. You stand for nothing other than your interests and will pay any price to hold political office.
“Nigerians are tired of your generation and reject everything you have to offer, which is nothing. Nigerians yearn for new names, new faces, fresh ideas, and progressive ideals.”
