A prominent figure within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ladan Salihu, has expressed that the withdrawal of former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso from the party significantly undermined aspirations for democratic rejuvenation in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday, Salihu, who previously served as Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), noted that the alliance between Obi and Kwankwaso within the ADC could have forged a viable alternative for governance in the 2027 elections.
He lamented that the opposition landscape is now splintered due to conflicting political interests and personal ambitions. According to Salihu, the departure of these two leaders from the ADC dealt a severe blow to the faith Nigerians had in the party as a vehicle for political change.
“I remain a steadfast and irrevocable member of the ADC,” Salihu stated. “Nigerians placed great hope in the unity of opposition parties and movements. The Obidient movement and the Kwankwasiyya movement, along with millions of citizens, believed that our democracy would flourish only with a strong and vibrant opposition.”
He added, “When Obi and Kwankwaso were part of the ADC, the opposition was widely perceived as the platform that could restore confidence in democracy and offer a different path for the country in 2027. Unfortunately, that vision has been fractured by competing political forces and individual ambitions.”
Salihu further criticized the trend of shifting loyalties and political maneuvering, suggesting that some key players treat opposition parties as mere vehicles for personal advancement rather than instruments for collective good.