My Thoughts On The Emerging Opposition – ADC
- By Rasheed Adegoke
Contrary to the widespread believe that ADC is a coalition of strange bedfellows, there is a pattern to the emerging opposition as the core elements are the ultra-conservatives (Buhari/CPC group), Obidients, and other disgruntled groups from both the PDP and APC.
There seems to be some common ideological thread between these elements – extreme rightists and even supremacist views on political issues with the tendency to centralize control. At least, they seem to blend more than the CPC, ANPP, ACN, and new PDP combination of 2014.
I believe ADC is a good starting point for a democracy built on the contestion of ideas
The voting pattern of 2023 shows clearly PBAT didn’t get the full support of the Buhari group and doesn’t have much leverage in the NE region. Which explains why he may pivot to the “talakawa/kwankwasiya” NW group if he chooses Kwankwaso as VP. I believe that VP change and choice of Kwankwaso is really involuntary otherwise there is no other permutation in a free and fair election for APC victory against an organized opposition in 2027.
Of course the Seyi Makinde PDP remnant will be a distraction in the election but any third group will not be as successful as LP was in 2023 as voters have learnt from the outcome not to split their votes plus ADC already fused the Atiku and Obi group.
The work on the opposition side is to find candidates that can mobilize voter energy as Jonathan did in SE/SS in 2011 and Buhari/Osinbajo did in 2015.
I am not expressing support for this opposition group and certainly not pro-conservatives who want more centralised control but this is a group that will shake APC up. It’s 2014 again but the actors are different and I do not expect PBAT to be a sitting duck like PGEJ.
Just for the fun of it, consider what will happen if Shettima is dropped and Borno including Zulum moves to ADC? What will be the outcome of a Obi/Zulum vs Tinubu/Kwankwaso contest for instance?
There are endings to this game that would make the election highly heated.
Interesting times ahead but the game is just starting. In the end, choices enable democracy to work in favour of the citizens.
May Nigeria win. God bless NIGERIA.
The opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the author. It does not represent the editorial position or opinion of OSUN DEFENDER.
