₦airaland Forum

El-Rufai Led ADC: A Wobbling Coalition

When Malam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, dramatically crossed into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the move sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political space. For many, it signaled the birth of a formidable “third force” that could disrupt the dominance of the ruling APC and the opposition PDP. But less than a year on, the ADC under El-Rufai looks less like a rising alternative and more like a coalition on life support.

The Promise That Fizzled

El-Rufai’s entry was trumpeted as the long-awaited rebirth of a credible opposition. His fiery rhetoric, reputation as a reformer, and ability to mobilize networks across the country seemed to give the ADC fresh oxygen. The party positioned itself as a magnet for technocrats, young professionals, and disillusioned politicians.

Yet, the honeymoon was short-lived. Instead of becoming a rallying point, the ADC has been riven by distrust, internal wrangling, and conflicting ambitions.

Fractures Within

What was billed as a united front has turned into a battlefield of competing interests:

Factional Wars: Long-time ADC loyalists complain of being pushed aside by El-Rufai’s camp, who they accuse of hijacking the party’s structure.

Identity Crisis: While El-Rufai projects the ADC as a progressive force, other blocs within the party see it merely as a bargaining chip for 2027 negotiations.

Leadership Struggles: Conflicting statements from national and state chapters have exposed the absence of a clear chain of command.

Funding and Resource Control: Allegations of selective empowerment and opaque financing further deepen mistrust.


The El-Rufai Factor: Strength or Liability?

El-Rufai is known for his intellect and daring reforms, but also for a combative style that often alienates allies. His heavy-handed approach to restructuring the ADC may have injected energy, but it has also widened divisions. Critics argue that instead of uniting the coalition, he is centralizing it around himself, creating resentment among old guards and new allies alike.

Implications for 2027

As 2027 approaches, the question is not whether the ADC can win the presidency—it is whether the party can even survive its internal contradictions. Unless El-Rufai finds a way to build consensus and accommodate divergent interests, the ADC risks going the way of past “third forces”: noisy at the start, forgotten at the polls.

For now, El-Rufai’s ADC stands as a cautionary tale: a coalition high on ambition but wobbling under the harsh realities of Nigeria’s zero-sum politics.

newscraft2023:
El-Rufai Led ADC: A Wobbling Coalitio

For now, El-Rufai’s ADC stands as a cautionary tale: a coalition high on ambition but wobbling under the harsh realities of Nigeria’s zero-sum politics.

Anywhere Obidients carry their collective akpu filled pot belly to will flop and flop badly.

ADC without Obi might have had a chance but as soon as they brought Obí in, who dragged along his poisoned chalice Obidients, it was game over.

Instead of Obidients studying the new terrain they were in, they sought to immediately start bullying all and sundry in order to force ADC to hand over their Presidential ticket to Peter Obi, shame they were unaware that Atiku had already allocated that to himself and a million Obidients wouldn't change his mindset.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 El rufai is a well known noise maker in ADC... grandstanding with provocative rhetorics that leads to no where....El rufai and Atiku have experienced a rude awakening....with no sitting Governor in their midst...Now , the vociferous ones among them are confused and desperate, running around with their tails btw their legs😁😁😀

I watched how he was attacked today in Kaduna by the alleged Apc supporters

helinues:
I watched how he was attacked today in Kaduna by the alleged Apc supporters

Alleged? Uba Sani has resorted to violence with tacit support by the Tinubu government but that won't save him in 2027. This will only rile up the people of Kaduna against APC. The same violent stance can be also be seen in Edo and other APC states but the Federal government is keeping mum. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

Deception!

AMINDA:
Alleged? Uba Sani has resorted to violence with tacit support by the Tinubu government but that won't save him in 2027. This will only rile up the people of Kaduna against APC. The same violent stance can be also be seen in Edo and other APC states but the Federal government is keeping mum. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

Is FG the state governors of the places you mentioned?

helinues:
Is FG the state governors of the places you mentioned?

Don't worry. Continue to play the ostrich. Sanwo-olu has also been ostracised in favour of thugs like Obasa because according to some people, he wasn’t Conservative and forceful enough, hence why Tinubu lost Lagos. Meanwhile, online, we are seeing open ethnic baiting and bigotry been encouraged under the umbrella of the so-called yooruba r.onu. Tinubu cannot win 2027 with violence. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

AMINDA:
Don't worry. Continue to play the ostrich. Sanwo-olu has also been ostracised in favour of thugs like Obasa because according to some people, he wasn’t Conservative and forceful enough, hence why Tinubu lost Lagos. Meanwhile, online, we are seeing open ethnic baiting and bigotry been encouraged under the umbrella of the so-called yooruba r.onu. Tinubu cannot win 2027 with violence. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

No be only ostrich but Sloth. Was it Tinubu that sent hoodlums to go and attack people

helinues:
No be only ostrich but Sloth. Was it Tinubu that sent hoodlums to go and attack people

Nor mind dem, the same President Tinubu that appealed for calm after he lost Lagos state. Saying there were other results coming that he was sure will favour him, and they did as well.