Fearing Post-Primary Fallout, ADC Proposes Shared-Power Deal for 2027

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has proposed a shared-power arrangement ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as the opposition moves to manage internal rivalry and prevent divisions after its presidential primary.

Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Monday, ADC chieftain and reform advocate, Lukman Salihu, said the party is advancing what he described as a “collegiate framework” designed to replace winner-takes-all politics with collective leadership.

“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 said.

He added, “If we produce the next government, it is not going to be like an emperor presiding over an empire. It will be a collegiate team spirit, whereby all decisions will be taken jointly.”

The proposal comes as competition within the opposition coalition deepens, with camps aligned to Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi advancing different positions over who should fly the coalition’s flag.

Salihu, however, dismissed suggestions that the contest reflects a fractured opposition.

“What you are seeing is contestation, and when you have politics without contestation, then it is no longer politics,” he said.

According to him, the framework is intended to ensure that all major contenders remain part of a governing arrangement, regardless of who secures the presidential ticket.

“One person will emerge, but will emerge as part of a team, not someone who defeats others and pushes them out of the race,” Salihu said.

Beyond the power-sharing proposal, he said the party has also developed a governance blueprint anchored on a manifesto adopted at its last convention.

“The party set up a 50-member committee to work out its policies and manifesto. As we speak today, the manifesto has been adopted,” he said.

He described the document as focused on “citizen-centred governance” and said legal disputes and internal challenges had delayed its formal public unveiling.

Salihu also said the party is designing a screening process aimed at producing broadly acceptable candidates.

“We want to ensure that the screening of candidates follows a framework that will ensure that the best and the most acceptable to the citizens emerge,” he said.

He used the interview to criticise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the party had moved away from its founding principles.

“To see where the APC is today is quite disappointing. All the so-called consensus arrangements across the states have collapsed,” he said.

“Instead of parties regulating elected officials, elected officials now regulate parties.”

He argued that the collegiate model would help restore party discipline and strengthen internal institutions.

“Having a collegiate system ensures that party organs work and regulate the conduct of elected representatives,” Salihu said.

On concerns that defeated aspirants could reject the outcome of the primary, Salihu expressed confidence that major actors in the coalition would remain committed to the process.

“I do not see him (Amaechi) walking away if someone else emerges victorious. He will remain part of the same collegiate system,” he said.

While some political groups and figures have stayed outside the coalition process, Salihu said participation remains open and voluntary.

“It is entirely their choice not to be there, and we respect that,” he said.

Despite rising tensions among opposition blocs, he maintained that the coalition would eventually rally behind one candidate ahead of 2027.

“We are ready to confront the situation as it is, and we believe the Nigerian people will make the right choice at the end,” he added.