Nigeria’s democratic journey, now approaching three decades, has been dominated at the national level by two major political parties, the PDP and the APC. While this historical reality is not in dispute, it is deeply troubling that at no point in this democratic experiment has the idea and substance of democracy been so trivialized as it has been under the APC. This degeneration has become even more pronounced from 2023 to date under the administration of President Tinubu. Governance in this period increasingly appears clever by half, socially insensitive, and disconnected from the lived realities of ordinary Nigerians. Democratic accountability has weakened as public trust continues to erode.
Amid this senseless governance environment, marked by policies that consistently burden the many while protecting the privileges of the few, a new national political coalition began to take shape. This coalition was not merely an alliance of political parties seeking electoral advantage. It emerged as a broad rainbow of Nigerians drawn from different professions, generations, and ideological backgrounds, united by a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a credible alternative. The coalition engaged in consultations and strategic reflections before settling on the African Democratic Congress as its political platform. In a clear demonstration of consensus and collective purpose, Senator David Mark, a respected and highly experienced Nigerian statesman, was unanimously confirmed as Acting National Chairman. This decision immediately distinguished the movement from the politics of imposition and coercion.
During this incubation period and even as the coalition continues to germinate, armchair speculators have been unusually active. Many of these voices, whether knowingly or unwittingly, have functioned as attack dogs for the ruling party. Their objective has been to discredit this nationalist drive aimed at restoring Nigeria to the pedestal of greatness. Repeated claims have been made that the coalition will implode and that ADC cannot manage its internal diversity. These narratives are not innocent because they are rooted in fear of a viable alternative to a ruling party that has dragged the nation backward by decades.
The discomfort of the APC is not difficult to understand when viewed against the record of the current administration. By changing Nigeria’s national anthem to one bequeathed by British colonial authorities, the government sent a symbolic signal that suggests a retreat from post independence national identity. This choice appeared to reflect a preference for a colonial legacy over a post independence expression of sovereignty. When combined with controversial tax collection arrangements involving foreign interests, including the French, a troubling pattern becomes clear. These actions reinforce the perception that Nigeria is being repositioned into a neo colonial posture. Sixty six years after independence, President Tinubu and his APC represent a profound national setback.
Within this broader context, debates surrounding ADC primaries have been deliberately distorted. There has been loud clamour in different quarters about rotational presidency within the party. This clamour persists despite the clear fact that the ADC constitution has not spoken about rotational presidency. Such arguments are being advanced not to strengthen the party but to import confusion and manipulation. They mirror tactics previously used in older parties where zoning is selectively weaponized. ADC has instead chosen to prioritize competence, credibility, and national appeal.
Names have naturally surfaced in public discourse, including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi, and others, such as Nasir el Rufai, whose political experience and national reach are well known. Within the party are also very many Nigerians who may not dominate daily headlines but who contribute depth, institutional strength, and vital grassroots energy. Rather, it confirms the seriousness and growing relevance of ADC. Only credible platforms attract such a range of experienced actors.
What will ultimately distinguish ADC from previously tested and failed or currently failing political experiments is its forthcoming convention. This convention is expected to serve as a defining democratic moment for the party. It will not be a coronation and it will not be a marketplace where influence is traded. The Acting National Chairman is not a man to be cowed by anybody, however highly placed. Senator David Mark’s political career demonstrates firmness, balance, and respect for due process. Under his leadership, every respectable and qualified person in the party will have the opportunity to aspire.
The speculators of doom fundamentally misunderstand the nature of this process. They assume that ambition must inevitably lead to implosion. This assumption is shaped by experiences in parties where internal democracy exists only as a slogan. ADC is deliberately charting a different course by emphasizing transparent procedures and collective ownership. Whoever emerges through a credible process will enjoy legitimacy. That legitimacy will in turn foster unity and discipline. The shared understanding within the coalition is that the mission is larger than any individual.
To insist that ADC will implode is therefore to misunderstand both the historical moment and the movement itself. Such claims merely project the failures of APC and PDP onto a platform that is consciously learning from those failures. The coalition around ADC is not naïve about the dangers of ego, indiscipline, or elite capture. That awareness is precisely why structures and processes are being emphasized from the outset. Strong leadership and institutional clarity are being deliberately cultivated. These measures are designed to prevent the very outcomes being predicted by critics.
Nigeria today stands at a critical inflection point. Hunger, insecurity, and hopelessness are no longer abstract concepts but lived realities for millions of citizens. In such a moment, the emergence of a serious and credible alternative will naturally provoke panic among those invested in the status quo. This panic manifests as rumours, noise, and constant predictions of collapse. Yet noise is not analysis. Speculation is not destiny.
ADC will conduct its convention and aspirants will test their ideas and support before the party and the nation. A candidate will emerge through a legitimate and credible process. When that happens, the same voices predicting collapse will be confronted by a united front. That unity will be driven not by desperation but by conviction. This may not be a perfect process but it is a purposeful one. Contrary to the wishes of its detractors, ADC will not implode because it is sustained by Nigerians’ constitutional right to express their views and demand a better future.
