Dr. Ladan Salihu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said that the defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has dramatically altered Nigeria’s opposition landscape, positioning the party as a formidable challenger to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He emphasised that the move represents a historic shift that strengthens opposition unity and gives the ADC renewed national momentum ahead of future elections.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Salihu said Obi’s entry into the ADC, following Atiku Abubakar’s earlier declaration for the party, marks a rare convergence of political forces that could redefine electoral outcomes in Nigeria, describing the development as unprecedented in scope and impact for both the party and the broader opposition movement.

“The defection, if you like, the declaration of Peter Obi joining the ADC is a blockbuster politically. It is a defining moment in our own political history and in the history of the ADC and in the history of the opposition movement in Nigeria.”

Salihu argued that the combined electoral weight of Obi and Atiku from the 2023 presidential election gives the ADC a clear strategic advantage. “Numbers don’t lie. The two put together in the last presidential elections in 2023 had about 62 to 63 percent of the total presidential votes. So, you can, if you take that calculus and, you know, put it on the table, you can literally say that the coming of Peter Obi into the ADC has put us in pole position, one leg already in the presidential villa.”

He said the atmosphere within the ADC has been transformed by Obi’s defection, noting widespread excitement across all levels of the party. “I am so excited. So are all members, from the top to the bottom echelon of the ADC, excited by this moment, by this monumental leap into political party activity.”

Salihu pointed to the presence of prominent political figures in the South-East as evidence of the ADC’s growing influence, describing a coalition of senators, former governors, and senior legislators rallying around the party’s platform. “When you look at the optics in Enugu, who is who in Eastern Nigerian politics, senators, former governors, former deputy speakers and many others. We are excited, we are upbeat, and we are looking forward to a very keenly contested national and presidential elections.”

Addressing concerns about internal divisions within the ADC, Salihu dismissed claims of factionalism, insisting the party remains united and resilient. “All a playbook. It’s in the playbook of the APC-led government, to continue to cause disaffection, disunity, so that all the political parties will disintegrate and collapse. It’s not going to work with the ADC.”

He described individuals claiming to represent factions within the ADC as politically irrelevant, arguing that recent endorsements and structural changes within the party have already settled questions of leadership and direction. “The ADC is one party. The other person is on his own, an irritant interloper. It’s hysterical nonsense. It’s not something that will fly.”

Salihu cautioned against early fixation on presidential candidacy, saying the party’s immediate priority should be consolidation, expansion, and clear communication of its vision to Nigerians. “We should not so much be looking at the issue of presidential elections at this stage. We should be looking at how we grow the party, how we market the party, how we sell the party to Nigerians, how we take the message to the grassroots.”

He also rejected the notion that Obi’s supporters or any political bloc should impose conditions on the ADC regarding the presidential ticket. “In politics, you don’t join a political party with conditionalities and conditions. The idea of somebody coming up to tell Nigerians, not only in ADC, in any political party, that if my presidential candidate should not win, it’s nothing, is anti-democratic.”

According to Salihu, internal democracy must guide the party’s decisions, with aspirants expected to earn the support of delegates. “You join as a member, you harvest your votes, you put your credibility, and eventually the delegates will decide.”

On the debate over zoning and whether the presidency should remain in the South, he said competence and leadership capacity should outweigh regional considerations. “The idea of saying one portion should do eight years and the other one should do eight years, even in the political mathematics of Nigeria, is unsustainable. I don’t agree with it.”

He expressed strong confidence in the ADC’s ability to withstand political pressure. “We will resist it. They will not divide the ADC. We will coalesce as the coalition that we are, and we will come up solid and firm. We can take on anybody, any political structure, and we will defeat them hands down.” (AriseNews TV)

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