As political alignments ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election continue to take shape, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has proposed a new power-sharing arrangement aimed at keeping opposition forces united and preventing internal cracks after party primaries.
The opposition party unveiled what it described as a “collegiate system”—a governance model designed to promote collective leadership rather than concentrating power in one individual.
The proposal comes amid rising political tension among supporters of key opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Rotimi Amaechi, all of whom are being speculated as possible contenders in the 2027 race.
ADC’s Collegiate System Explained
Speaking during an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Monday, Lukman Salihu, a key promoter of the ADC reform agenda, said the framework is designed to eliminate “winner-takes-all” politics.
According to him, the new arrangement would ensure that whoever emerges as the party’s presidential candidate would govern as part of a team rather than as an “emperor presiding over an empire.”
He said:
“The new framework we are trying to put together is a collegiate framework. It is not a framework where one person will be the winner of everything.”
Salihu added that decisions under the proposed government would be taken jointly, with all major actors remaining part of the leadership structure.
Rising Opposition Tensions Ahead of 2027
The ADC’s move comes as internal contestation intensifies among opposition supporters.
Backers of Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, and Amaechi have continued to advance rival arguments over who should lead the coalition into the 2027 general election.
However, Salihu dismissed suggestions that the competition signals disunity.
According to him:
“What you are seeing is contestation, and when you have politics without contestation, then it is no longer politics.”
He stressed that the goal is to keep all aspirants invested in the process regardless of who wins the party ticket.
‘No One Will Be Pushed Out’
Salihu insisted that the eventual winner would emerge as part of a united team and not as someone who defeats others and sidelines them.
He specifically referenced Amaechi, saying he does not expect the former minister to walk away if another candidate emerges.
Instead, he believes all major actors would remain within the “collegiate system.”
ADC Manifesto Focuses on Citizens
Beyond the power-sharing arrangement, Salihu revealed that the ADC has already developed a governance blueprint anchored on a citizen-centred manifesto.
He disclosed that a 50-member committee was set up to draft policies aimed at addressing Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic and political challenges.
According to him, the manifesto was adopted during the party’s last convention, although legal disputes and internal issues have delayed its public unveiling.
He said the party is also developing a screening framework to ensure the best and most acceptable candidates emerge.
ADC Criticises APC Over Internal Democracy
Salihu also took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of drifting from its founding ideals.
He alleged that many consensus arrangements across states have collapsed and that elected officials now control party structures instead of the other way around.
According to him, restoring internal discipline and empowering party organs are key priorities for the opposition coalition.
2027 Election Battle Heats Up
With Nigeria’s political space already witnessing early permutations, the ADC’s proposed shared-power formula may become a major factor in shaping the opposition’s strategy against the ruling APC.
Whether the collegiate model will succeed in uniting strong personalities like Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, and Amaechi remains to be seen.
For now, the opposition appears determined to present a united front as the battle for the 2027 presidency gradually gathers momentum.
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