By Sani Danaudi Mohammed
The ADC coalition’s emergence has sparked debate about whether Nigerians can trust this new alliance, with some questioning if it’s just “same faces, new platform.” History has shown that similar coalitions, like the APC’s merger of CPC, ACN, and ANPP, can be successful, but others have faltered due to underlying tensions and mistrust. Can the ADC coalition prove itself different, or will it succumb to the same challenges that have plagued previous alliances?
The formation of coalitions in Nigerian politics has been a recurring theme, with various political parties and heavyweight politicians coming together to achieve common goals. In 2013, a merger of some political parties, including Tinubu’s ACN, Former President Buhari’s CPC, ANNP, and a faction of the PDP led by notable politicians such as Atiku Abubakar, Kwankwaso, Bukola Saraki, and Rotimi Amaechi, resulted in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This coalition played a significant role in ending the 16-year PDP rule in March 2015 when Goodluck Jonathan lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) was a coming together of three major different camps, namely Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which originated from The Buhari Organization (TBO) and was formed in 2006 by Muhammadu Buhari and his political allies, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a party known for its strong regional presence and mobilization efforts, and Ogbonnaya Onu’s All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), each bringing their unique histories, strengths, and contributions to the newly formed party.
The APC brought together a diverse group of politicians, including Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Abubakar Malami SAN, Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi, and Abdulrauf Aregbesola, among others. These individuals became major players and actors in the Buhari government, shaping the country’s policies and direction. However, over time, some of these individuals have left the APC and joined other political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Recently, a new coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the PDP Presidential Candidate in the last elections, has emerged. This coalition includes other notable politicians such as Peter Obi, the former Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Former Senate President David Mark, Former Governor of Rivers State and former Minister in the Buhari administration Rotimi Amaechi, and founding Chairman of APC, John Oyegun, among others. Nigerians have been asking questions about the purpose of this coalition, beyond capturing power.
The big question on everyone’s mind is whether this present coalition of ADC is different from the APC coalition of 2014. Can they be trusted? Many are of the opinion that as long as it is the same faces, it is another illusion rather than a genuine attempt at governance. The concern is that this coalition may be more focused on capturing power than solving the nation’s problems.
One of the key differences between the APC coalition of 2014 and the ADC coalition of today is the context in which they were formed. The APC coalition was formed to challenge the PDP’s grip on power, and it was a response to the perceived failures of the PDP government. The ADC coalition, on the other hand, is being formed in a different context, with the APC now in power and facing its own set of challenges.
Another difference is the composition of the coalitions. While the APC coalition brought together a diverse group of politicians, the ADC coalition appears to be made up of individuals who have largely been part of the APC or other parties in the past. This has raised questions about whether this coalition is genuinely committed to change or whether it is simply a regrouping of familiar faces.
The APC was able to achieve its goal of ending the PDP’s rule, but it has faced its own set of challenges since coming to power. The party has struggled with internal conflicts, and some of its key leaders have left the party. It remains to be seen whether the ADC coalition will be able to achieve its goals and provide a genuine alternative to the APC.
In evaluating the trustworthiness of the ADC coalition, Nigerians will need to look beyond the faces involved and examine the coalition’s policies and commitment to governance. Will they prioritize the needs of the Nigerian people, or will they be driven by personal interests? Only time will tell.
The emergence of the ADC coalition has sparked a national conversation about the need for new leadership and a fresh approach to governance. Nigerians are eager to see whether this coalition can deliver on its promises and provide a better future for the country.
Ultimately, the success of the ADC coalition will depend on its ability to connect with the Nigerian people and demonstrate a genuine commitment to solving the nation’s problems. If it can do this, it may be able to build trust with Nigerians and provide a viable alternative to the APC. However, if it fails to deliver, it may be seen as just another illusion, and Nigerians may continue to suffer under poor governance.
In Germany, the grand coalition between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) formed in 2018 aimed to address pressing national issues such as climate change, economic growth, and social welfare. This coalition brought together two major parties with different ideologies to work towards common goals, ensuring stability and progress in the country. Through collaborative governance, they implemented policies that benefited the broader population, such as increasing renewable energy production and improving healthcare systems.
In India, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been instrumental in driving economic reforms and development projects. By bringing together various regional parties, the NDA has been able to maintain a stable government and implement policies that promote economic growth, infrastructure development, and social welfare. The coalition’s focus on inclusive growth and community participation has helped to address some of the country’s most pressing challenges, such as poverty and inequality.
The ADC coalition in Nigeria can draw lessons from these examples by prioritizing community participation and democracy. To regain the trust of the masses, the coalition must move beyond mere press statements and demonstrate a real commitment to returning power to the people. This can be achieved by implementing policies that promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, and by ensuring that decision-making processes are decentralized and participatory.
Nigerians may be skeptical about trusting another coalition, such as the ADC, after the APC’s perceived failures because they have seen the same faces and interests dominate both parties, leading to a lack of confidence in the ability of these politicians to deliver meaningful change. The APC’s inability to fulfill its promises and address pressing issues like economic stagnation, insecurity, and corruption has created a sense of disillusionment among Nigerians, making them wary of another coalition that may promise similar things but fail to deliver. For the ADC coalition to gain trust, it would need to demonstrate a clear break from the past, a genuine commitment to transparency, accountability, and the welfare of the Nigerian people, and a willingness to prioritize the needs of the masses over the interests of the elite.
The difference lies in their underlying motivations and goals; the APC was formed as a merger of opposition parties to challenge the PDP’s grip on power, driven by a desire for change and a need for a fresh alternative, whereas the ADC coalition appears to be a regrouping of familiar faces from various parties, including former APC members, with a potential focus on capturing power, possibly driven by a mix of ideological, personal, and political interests. This distinction in motivations may shape their approaches to governance and policy-making.
The difference in their formations is that the APC was created through a formal merger of several parties, including ACN, CPC, and ANPP, with a structured leadership and a defined set of goals, whereas the ADC coalition seems to be an informal alliance of individuals from different parties, united by a shared goal of challenging the current administration, but with potentially differing ideologies, interests, and agendas. This difference in formation may impact their cohesion, decision-making processes, and ability to deliver on their promises.
Other parties like PDP, NNPP, Labour Party, and SDP are navigating their internal dynamics, while the newly adopted bride, ADC, is still battling an unhealed political virus. A recent court case has been introduced, calling for the vacation of the party’s interim executives by certain groups within the party, further complicating its internal affairs.
Opposition parties have continued to blame the APC-led administration for infiltrating their ranks, but the President has maintained that, as a democrat, he cannot intervene in the crises plaguing opposition parties. He has also dismissed claims of turning Nigeria into a one-party state, asserting his commitment to democratic principles and allowing each party to resolve its internal issues independently.
The question on many Nigerians’ minds is whether they can trust the ADC coalition, given concerns that it may be “same faces, different platforms.” With familiar figures from other parties joining ADC, some worry that this might be a case of old wine in new bottles, rather than a genuine effort to bring about change. This perception could impact the party’s credibility and ability to attract genuine support from Nigerians seeking meaningful alternatives.
The ADC must prioritize unity and collective purpose over personal interests to succeed. By putting aside individual ambitions and working together towards a common goal, the coalition can harness their diverse strengths and experiences to build a strong, cohesive movement that can effectively challenge the ruling party and potentially bring about positive change in Nigeria. If personal interests are allowed to dominate, the coalition risks fragmentation and failure, undermining its ability to deliver on its promises to the Nigerian people.
Unless the masses see tangible evidence of power being returned to them, they will remain skeptical of another coalition of interests. The ADC coalition must define a new politics that prioritizes the needs and aspirations of the people, rather than just serving the interests of the elite. The ADC coalition has a tall order to fill, but it also has an opportunity to shape the future of Nigeria and provide a new direction for the country. Whether it will succeed or fail remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – Nigerians are watching closely.
