Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the recently formed opposition coalition as a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy. However, he expressed skepticism about its potential to make a lasting impact or achieve meaningful political traction.
Gbajabiamila shared his views with journalists on Saturday after casting his vote in the Lagos State local government elections at his polling unit, PU 014, Elizabeth Fowler Memorial High School, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere.
“It’s a welcome development with the coalition. It’s not the first time we’re seeing this. In every democracy, we must have some level of opposition; otherwise, we’ll run into a one-party state. But I’m not sure where it would go,” he stated.
The former Speaker emphasized that opposition is critical to the survival of any democracy, adding, “There has to be some level of opposition in a democracy. However, for whatever the coalition is worth, I am not sure where it will go — that is, if it will go anywhere.”
Gbajabiamila also praised the conduct of the local elections but expressed disappointment over the low voter turnout.
“So far, I’ve seen peace; I’ve seen quiet; I’ve seen free and fair elections. A little bit disappointed about the turnout, which is where we need to work on. Perhaps because people don’t fully understand the importance of local government elections, which are even more important than any other election. We need to sensitise our people,” he said.
He arrived at the polling unit, which has 669 registered voters, at 12:28 p.m. and cast his vote at 12:31 p.m., accompanied by aides and supporters.
ADC Clarifies Status of Atiku, Obi in Coalition
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which serves as the adopted political platform for the opposition coalition, has clarified why prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have yet to resign from their respective political parties.
Speaking with THISDAY, the ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, explained that the leaders were granted permission to remain in their original parties until the conclusion of ongoing off-season elections organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“For Atiku and Peter Obi, they have supporters who have obtained nomination forms to contest various off-season elections. Their supporters need them for their electoral victories, so the leadership. We are aware that they have yet to resign,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that these figures are expected to formally disengage once the electoral processes are completed.
PDP’s Ex-Legal Adviser Dismisses Coalition as “Window Shopping”
In a separate reaction, a former Legal Adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jacob Mark, has criticised the legitimacy of the coalition, saying it lacks formal structure and credibility.
“You cannot belong to two political parties. You must belong to one,” Mark said during an interview on ARISE NEWS.
“So, when people say they are doing a coalition, they are in PDP, and then they are in ADC, I don’t take them seriously.”
He described the actions of some coalition participants as “political window shopping” and insisted that a serious coalition must be a formal agreement between established parties—not individuals hopping across party lines.
“A coalition that will work is a coalition that will be a working arrangement between political parties, not individuals, particularly those who are here in Abuja,” he added.
Asked whether the likes of Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark fall into that category, he replied: “This is what I expect every other person serious about coalition to do. So, he’s out of the window shopping. But certainly, until Atiku resigns from the PDP, I will not take him seriously.”
Mark also pointed fingers at PDP leadership for weakening internal discipline, saying, “People who took over from us degraded the party, degraded its disciplinary, working machinery, and made the party a laughingstock.”
He lamented the absence of consequences for anti-party conduct: “People walk in and out, come back, every time you go where you want, come back and take a slot in the PDP again… Now, in our time, you dare not try that. We will expel you.”
