Governors’ Defections Meaningless: ADC Spokesperson Says Only 1% of Nigerians Belong to Political Parties
In a political landscape increasingly dominated by defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a leading opposition figure has dismissed the trend as largely inconsequential. Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has asserted that the migration of governors and lawmakers holds little weight because a mere fraction—approximately one percent—of the Nigerian populace are actual, card-carrying members of any political party.
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview, Abdullahi framed these defections not as a sign of the APC’s strength, but as a desperate gambit by unpopular elites to “protect themselves” from an increasingly disgruntled electorate. He positioned the ADC, the core of a broader opposition coalition, as the authentic alternative building from the ground up to prevent Nigeria from sliding into a one-party state.
The Quiet Work of Building a Political Alternative
Addressing perceptions that the initial excitement around the ADC-led coalition has waned, Abdullahi pushed back, drawing a clear distinction between political theatrics and substantive organization. He likened the current phase of the party’s development to the meticulous work of a builder, which is often less visible than the noisy efforts of a firefighter.
“When we announced our party, Nigerians were excited to see that there is an alternative,” Abdullahi acknowledged. “But you don’t build a political party that will win elections by making public appearances and rallies alone. You need to go down and build your structures across the country, in the villages, in the wards, in the polling units.”
He emphasized that while the public spectacle might have diminished, the foundational work is intensifying. “I just came back from Kwara State today, where we will build our party on Saturday. So, this is the real work that needs to be done… The ADC you have today is not the ADC you had last year. It’s a completely different party.”
Drawing a historical parallel, he reminded observers that the APC’s own momentum before the 2015 elections didn’t truly crystallize until late 2014, suggesting that the ADC’s strategic patience is a calculated move, not a sign of weakness.
Defections as a Sign of Weakness, Not Strength
The conversation naturally turned to the recent wave of high-profile defections, particularly from the beleaguered Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Many analysts have warned this could consolidate the ruling party’s power, but Abdullahi offered a starkly different interpretation.
“What percentage of Nigerians belong to any political party? Maybe less than 1%,” he stated, framing the entire political class as a tiny minority. “So, for us, it’s like saying that because a governor defected to a ruling party, then that means that state is already won by the ruling party. That’s a flawed assumption.”
He argued that many of these defecting governors are profoundly unpopular in their own states, having failed to improve the lives of their constituents despite record financial allocations. “They have collected more money in the last two years than any governor in the history of their states… How has that impacted the life and livelihood of the people?” he questioned rhetorically. “They know they’re unpopular. They need to protect themselves, and that’s why they’re moving to the ruling party.”
Abdullahi expressed a surprising lack of concern, even welcoming the consolidation. “Let all of them join the ruling party,” he declared, “then we know that it’s a two-horse race between the people of Nigeria and the ruling party.”
Internal Party Dynamics and the Peter Obi Question
The interview also touched on internal ADC matters, specifically the reported suspension of a national officer. Abdullahi downplayed the issue as an inevitable part of political organizing. “This is politics we are playing, and there will be power struggles,” he said, clarifying that the individuals who took the action lacked the authority to suspend a national official.
More significantly, he addressed the status of Peter Obi, the influential figure from the 2023 elections, within the coalition. Amid speculation about Obi’s engagement, Abdullahi was unequivocal: “Peter Obi has not told us anything different from what he has always said, which is that he is with us… He never announced that he was going to leave.” He maintained that Obi’s status within the coalition remains unchanged, a crucial point for the opposition’s unity and public perception.
Confronting the Specter of a One-Party State
The most sobering part of the discussion centered on what Abdullahi described as the Tinubu administration’s plan to establish a modern civilian dictatorship. He argued that the systematic weakening of opposition parties is a deliberate strategy.
“We’ve been worrying about this from day one,” he stated. “The PDP is more or less dead. The Labour Party has been destabilised. The only opposition party in Nigeria today that you can call the opposition party is the ADC.”
In his view, this justifies the very existence of the coalition. “What you see about the decamping of the governor to the ruling party is part of that larger objective… It’s a continuation of the same gang-up.”
Yet, he found hope in historical precedent. “At the height of its power, was PDP not the same way?” he asked. “Didn’t we see a situation where almost every member of the political elite was joining the PDP? Have we forgotten that at one point… the national chairman of PDP declared that PDP would rule for 60 years? So, where is PDP today? If APC has not learned from history, you’ll see what will happen to them.”
A Wait-and-See Approach to INEC and Protesters’ Rights
On the promises of the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, to deliver elections where losers willingly congratulate winners, Abdullahi was cautiously skeptical. “We have heard his promises. That’s just what they are. They are promises. So, we are watching and waiting.”
Regarding allegations that security forces used live ammunition against protesters, he took a measured stance, noting the party could not comment without concrete evidence. However, he firmly stated the principle: “In a democracy, nobody should be hurt because they are expressing themselves… If it now carries capital punishment, then that’s no longer democracy.”
As Nigeria navigates a period of significant political realignment, the ADC, through Abdullahi’s words, projects a strategy of grassroots resilience. They are betting that the gulf between a protected political class and the suffering masses will ultimately prove more decisive than the short-term gains of defecting governors. The battle for Nigeria’s democratic soul, it seems, is just beginning.
Full credit to the original publisher: Business Day – https://businessday.ng/life/article/governors-defection-meaningless-because-only-about-1-of-nigerians-belong-to-parties-abdullahi/