The Pro-Chancellor of the Federal College of Education, Ididep, Akwa Ibom State, Cletus Obun, recently expressed strong skepticism about the newly formed coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a gathering of political power-seekers lacking credibility and consistency.
In a recent interview, Obun—an influential member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State and former chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)—dismissed the coalition’s prospects, saying it comprises political veterans whose track records cast doubt on their current motives.
“We are not dealing with anything new,” he said. “Check every person who is prominent in that coalition; they have all held one position or the other in the last 24 years. Their records speak for themselves.”
Among those he singled out were Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President; Boss Mustapha, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation; and Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Governor of Kaduna State—all of whom have been linked to the coalition.
Obun asserted that the ADC coalition is nothing more than a political rebranding effort by familiar faces seeking to regain lost relevance.
“What we are seeing is a congregation of power mongers simply seeking how to become relevant again, reinvent themselves, and rewrite their own history,” he added.
While acknowledging the need for a vibrant and effective opposition in Nigeria’s democracy, Obun argued that the ADC coalition is “too diluted” to offer any real challenge to the APC or to reshape the political landscape in any meaningful way.
“It is good for political optics, but it lacks substance,” he stated. “The coalition is due for political expression, but it won’t yield any tangible benefits, either to the individuals or to Nigeria.”
Despite his criticism, Obun conceded that a one-party system is unsustainable in Nigeria, citing the country’s diverse and politically conscious population.
“Nigerians are too politically conscious and enlightened to be eroded into a one-party system. A weak opposition drifts you into complacency and underperformance. You need opposition to perform,” he noted.
The ADC coalition, recently touted as a third-force movement aiming to unite opposition voices and challenge the dominance of the APC and PDP, has drawn both interest and skepticism across the political spectrum. However, Obun’s remarks underscore the prevailing doubts about the coalition’s cohesion and ability to inspire widespread voter trust.
As the 2027 elections inch closer, analysts say the coming months will test whether this coalition can offer a genuine alternative or if it will fizzle out as another fleeting political experiment.