By Lateef Ibrahim
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled plans to adopt a power-sharing arrangement aimed at preventing internal divisions within opposition ranks ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The party said the proposed framework would depart from the conventional winner-takes-all approach by introducing a collegiate system that allows for shared leadership, even after the emergence of a presidential candidate.
Speaking during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise TV, monitored in Abuja, a member of the ADC reform committee, Lukman Salihu, said the initiative is designed to promote collective decision-making and prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual.
According to him, the party is committed to building a leadership structure anchored on teamwork and inclusivity, rather than allowing any one person to dominate the political space.
Salihu noted that the move is also intended to avert a situation where a victorious candidate assumes excessive control, stressing that shared responsibility would remain central to the party’s governance model.
His comments come amid growing jostling within opposition circles, with loyalists of Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi advancing different interests over the leadership of a proposed coalition.
However, the ADC chieftain described such contestations as a normal feature of democratic politics, adding that all stakeholders would remain relevant within the party’s decision-making structure regardless of the eventual flagbearer.
He further disclosed that the party has already drawn up a governance blueprint through a 50-member committee, while its manifesto was ratified at its most recent convention, with a focus on delivering people-oriented policies.
Salihu also stated that mechanisms have been put in place to ensure credible candidates emerge through a transparent screening process.
He, however, took a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that party discipline has eroded as elected officials now wield disproportionate influence over party structures.
He maintained that the ADC’s proposed model would help restore internal discipline and strengthen institutional frameworks within political parties.
