Ladan Salihu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has stated that the defections of two previous presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, from the party have clouded Nigeria’s expectations for democratic rebirth.
Salihu made the statement on Sunday during an interview with Arise Television.
According to the former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), the merging of the two in the ADC would have presented the government with an alternate avenue in 2027.
According to him, the opposition is currently fractured due to opposing political forces and goals.
“Obi and Kwankwaso’s departure from the ADC dashed aspirations for democratic regeneration. For the record, I remain a steadfast and irrevocable member of the ADC.
“Nigerians believed in the consolidation or aggregation of all opposition parties and organisations.
“The Obedients, the Kwankwasiyya movement, and millions of others feel that our democracy will thrive if there is a strong and robust opposition.
“So, when they were with the ADC, Nigerians saw the opposition as a platform that would rekindle hope in democracy and provide an alternative route for government in 2027.” Unfortunately, the opposition is divided by competing political forces and goals.
“At the highest level, shifting loyalties and political somersaults suggest that some actors view the opposition primarily as a platform for personal ambition rather than collective purpose,” he said.