APC Scribe Blasts Opposition ‘Coalition’ as Political Theatre, Not Strategy
The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ajibola Basiru, has launched a scathing attack on the so-called coalition of opposition leaders, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, branding the alliance nothing more than a politically choreographed charade aimed at deceiving Nigerians.
In an interview with Vanguard in Osogbo on Sunday, Basiru scoffed at what he called “a coalition built on false branding and self-preservation,” declaring that the much-publicized realignment of political actors into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is merely a mass migration of disgruntled elites, not a genuine coalition of ideas or purpose.
“What happened during the formation of APC in 2015 was a true political merger backed by the formal withdrawal of party certificates. What these politicians are doing is simple: they’ve defected. But instead of owning up, they’re trying to repackage it as a moral crusade,” he said bluntly.
Basiru did not mince words in labeling the opposition alliance a coalition of convenience designed to serve the egos and ambitions of failed politicians rather than the interests of the Nigerian people. According to him, many of the key figures in the ADC-aligned opposition front are “internally displaced political persons” who are recycling themselves under a new banner after years of misgovernance and irrelevance.
“This is not about rescuing Nigeria. It’s about rescuing their political careers. Let’s call it what it is a desperation move by old players who can’t let go of power,” Basiru said.
APC Not Panicked, Opposition in Disarray
Basiru dismissed suggestions that the ruling APC is threatened by the opposition’s sudden embrace of the ADC platform. Rather, he said, it is the opposition that has descended into confusion unable to present a united front or offer coherent solutions.
“Only a few months ago, they accused APC and President Tinubu of trying to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. Now they’ve turned around and claimed victory just because they’re hiding under the ADC logo. It’s laughable. They can’t even be consistent in their criticisms,” he said.
He emphasized that the APC remains solidly united, with no sitting governor contemplating defection, and that the party is instead making strategic gains, particularly in regions like the South-South where it previously lacked significant influence.
A Coalition Without Ideology?
Political observers say Basiru’s scathing remarks reflect a broader skepticism among the public regarding the sincerity of the so-called coalition. With no clear policy agenda, leadership structure, or ideological framework beyond ousting the APC, many analysts are questioning whether the ADC alliance represents a real alternative or just a desperate repackaging of Nigeria’s tired political class.
While Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai continue to hold meetings and issue lofty declarations about “saving Nigeria,” critics argue that without transparency, internal democracy, and a roadmap for governance, the new bloc risks becoming just another footnote in Nigeria’s long list of failed opposition movements.
“You can’t build credibility by jumping from one party to another every election cycle,” Basiru added. “Nigerians are watching, and they won’t be fooled by recycled rhetoric.”
As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, the real test may not lie in the ability of opposition figures to unite, but in their ability to inspire trust among a weary and increasingly disillusioned electorate. For now, the so-called coalition remains more smoke than fire.
Reference
APC Scribe Blasts Opposition ‘Coalition’ as Political Theatre, Not Strategy