Salihu Lukman, a key promoter of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Tuesday cautioned against the infiltration of political godfathers into the party, warning that such influence could undermine its democratic aspirations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and an outspoken advocate for internal democracy, issued the warning in a statement titled “ADC and the Prospect of Internal Democracy.” He expressed concern that the coalition could mirror the internal crises of older parties like the PDP and APC if urgent steps were not taken to safeguard its democratic integrity.
His statement coincided with the formal assumption of office by Senator David Mark as the Interim National Chairman of the ADC. Lukman said the real test of Senator Mark’s leadership would be his ability to prevent elite capture and ensure that the party is not controlled by self-styled godfathers.
“With the way things are going, coalition leaders may emerge as godfathers, and the next step would be the imposition of their surrogates as party leaders at all levels,” Lukman said. “This, in turn, could lead to the selection of preferred candidates for the 2027 elections, effectively undermining the democratic ideals on which the coalition was built.”
He further noted that some opposition leaders, who were previously skeptical of the coalition and accused its initiators of serving hidden interests, are now attempting to hijack the party’s structure by planting loyalists in key positions.
Meanwhile, Lukman’s statement followed recent remarks by former Borno State Governor and APC chieftain, Ali Modu Sheriff, who dismissed the ADC as a party destined to fade and suggested that 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would soon return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sheriff’s assertion was swiftly countered by ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, who insisted that Obi remains committed to the coalition and would not risk rejoining the PDP. Abdullahi said the Labour Party candidate was aware of the challenges of navigating the internal politics of the PDP, especially given its perceived entanglement with ruling party interests.
Lukman also used the opportunity to highlight the need for inclusive politics at state and local levels, particularly in Kaduna State. “Coming from Kaduna, we must take every necessary step to end the divisive politics of religion and ethnicity and promote all-inclusive leadership,” he said.
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