Ohanaeze Hails Coalition, Says ADC Has Stopped Nigeria From Sliding Into One-Party State

Ohanaeze Hails Coalition, Says ADC Has Stopped Nigeria From Sliding Into One-Party State

 

...Urges Tinubu to Rethink Governance Approach as 2027 Looms

 

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has thrown its weight behind the opposition coalition’s adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), hailing the development as a critical step in halting Nigeria’s dangerous slide into a one-party state under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

 

In a joint statement issued Friday by its factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Chief Thompson Ohia, Ohanaeze praised the coalition’s decision to rally around the ADC, saying it has effectively disrupted a creeping political monopoly and renewed hope for Nigeria’s democratic survival.

 

“This development has rendered the so-called crisis merchants—those who have worked to weaken the PDP, Labour Party, SDP, and APGA—irrelevant. Their political sponsors are now anxious as the ADC rises as a credible and formidable contender,” the statement read.

 

The organization warned that Nigeria had been veering dangerously close to a one-party structure, a trend it said undermines democracy and silences the voices of millions of Nigerians. It also commended the coalition for offering a platform that could challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Tinubu Urged to Wake Up

 

Ohanaeze didn’t hold back in its criticism of the current administration, urging President Tinubu to “wake up from his complacent slumber” and address the nation’s worsening economic and governance crises.

 

“The time has come for the government to take decisive action to revitalize the economy. President Tinubu must critically assess whether his administration’s unpopular policies have benefited Nigerians,” it stated.

 

While acknowledging what it described as “commendable efforts” in infrastructure development under Ministers David Umahi and Nyesom Wike, the group called for a thorough Cabinet reshuffle, pointing to widespread inefficiency in key sectors like security, agriculture, and healthcare.

 

The group emphasized the need for evidence-based reforms, crafted by respected economists and technocrats, to restore public trust and stabilize the nation.

 

ADC Challenge: A Blessing in Disguise?

 

In a surprising turn, Ohanaeze urged President Tinubu to view the growing strength of the ADC not as a threat but as an opportunity to realign his governance strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

“Neglecting the people’s needs will only lead to grave consequences for his administration. The ADC’s rise should be a wake-up call,” the statement warned.

 

However, the organization also cautioned Nigerians not to romanticize the opposition blindly, noting that “80% of coalition leaders are of questionable character,” and many were complicit in the hardship experienced during the past decade under APC rule.

 

Northern Governors May Defect

 

Ohanaeze further revealed that intelligence reports suggest several northern governors may be plotting to defect from the APC to the ADC, possibly derailing Tinubu’s 2027 re-election ambitions.

 

“Some Northern governors are already in talks with the ADC and are facing pressure from political and traditional leaders to abandon the APC. The North may resist any attempt to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima with another nominee in the next elections,” the statement added.

 

A Sobering Reality

 

In conclusion, the group stressed that the president must face the “stark and sobering” political realities ahead, warning that failure to adjust course urgently could have dire consequences.

 

“The current trajectory of President Tinubu’s government demands immediate and sincere recalibration. Nigeria cannot afford continued governance driven by political expediency rather than national interest,” Ohanaeze warned.