The Senior Political Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Demola Olarewaju, has described the emerging opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as one of the most significant developments in Nigeria’s recent democratic history.
He said the coalition represents a structural response to growing concerns about governance, political imbalance, and the weakening of opposition parties.
He made the assertion on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State. According to him, the coalition is not a mere electoral arrangement but a structural response to widening concerns about governance and political balance.
He maintained that the ADC represents what he called a necessary correction within Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
“I think the ADC coalition is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria over the past few years. We see what is going on. And it’s a shame, you know.
“We see what is going on as regards the shrinking of the political space. We see a president who claims to be a political genius but is not able to solve the problems of Nigeria. But he is able to disrupt opposition political parties”.
Olarewaju further argued that the current political climate has contributed to instability within major opposition parties. He said the PDP, which came second in the 2023 election, is currently experiencing internal crises.
He added that similar patterns are visible in other political formations. He maintained that these developments are symptomatic of deeper structural issues in Nigeria’s democracy.
“The PDP came second in the 2023 election. That party is in crisis now. Actors who are close to the political opposition, like Nyesom Wike, you see Labour Party too. The same thing has happened to them. That party came third in the last election.
“They tried it also with NNPP. But unfortunately for them, NNPP is built around the personality of Kwankwaso. So, it is a problem. There is a shrinking political space.
“There is a shrinking political space, you know. And the ADC has come to expand that space. So, I think that, ADC coming on board at this time is an absolutely good thing for Nigerians.”
He explained that the coalition should not be dismissed as elite bargaining or personal ambition, but rather understood as a convergence of political actors reacting to systemic challenges within Nigeria’s democratic space.
“According to him, the ADC is gaining traction because of the condition of the political environment, not because of individual aspirations.
“We see a president who claims to be a political genius but is not able to solve the problems of Nigeria, yet somehow finds himself in a position where opposition parties are constantly in disarray. This is not something that should be ignored.
“It is happening across the PDP, it is happening in Labour Party, and attempts were even made in NNPP. So when we talk about ADC, we are talking about a necessary response to a political environment that is becoming increasingly unbalanced.”
Olarewaju further stated that opposition parties have become increasingly constrained in recent years, with internal fragmentation becoming a recurring issue after the last general election. He argued that this instability has created a vacuum that the ADC is now filling as an alternative political platform.
“In the period when INEC, derecognize the David Mark leadership of the ADC. Two hours after that, about 500,000 people registered to be members.
“Two days after that, 500,000 people registered to be members of the ADC. I think that Nigerians are enthusiastic about it.
“Because the truth is, no matter how good things are, there must always be an opposition force.
“People were reacting not just to a party issue but to what they perceive as a larger political shift.
“In fact, within a short period, hundreds of thousands of people expressed interest in joining the ADC. That tells you something important about the mood in the country”, he said.
He also alleged that the weakening of opposition parties is not entirely organic, claiming that indirect political pressure has contributed to crises within major parties. He maintained that these patterns reflect broader issues within Nigeria’s democratic system.
Olarewaju also accused the ruling structure of contributing to opposition instability through alleged political interference and selective allocation of federal resources.
He claimed that some governors have publicly raised concerns about pressure tied to political alignment.
“There are certain allocations that should come to state. Ecological funds, the UBEC counterpart matching funds. Okay?
“These are only being given to state governments that are sympathetic to the ruling party. Dauda Lawal was the one who came out to say this. Bauchi governor, Bala Mohamed, also made accusations. So, it is very clear. The President wants a one-party system.
“We have never had a situation like this before where opposition is being crushed. Where the President sees himself as the President of only APC, Remi Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu, and they do not see themselves as a presidency for all of Nigeria”, Atiku’s Aide said.
