Salihu Lukman has warned the Senator David Mark-led national leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against godfatherism and the imposition of leaders at all levels.
Lukman, a former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), expressed concern that many ADC leaders are already acting as though the 2027 elections will be an easy win.
In a statement titled “ADC and the Prospect of Internal Democracy” issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Lukman noted that after leadership positions were zoned, some coalition leaders who were only nominees in the negotiating committee promoted themselves to become zonal leaders.
While commending Senator Mark’s role in uniting the party and forming the new leadership, Lukman criticized ongoing attempts to manipulate the ADC’s leadership reform.
He said, “Loyalists are being promoted in ways that disregard intellectual capacity, integrity, performance record, community respect, and broad acceptance. This suggests some leaders already see the 2027 elections as a done deal. If this continues, coalition leaders will become godfathers, imposing their surrogates at every level, followed by handpicking candidates for 2027. The first test of Senator Mark’s leadership will be his ability to stop this trend and prevent ADC from becoming another replica of the old parties.”
Lukman also emphasized the need for a new orientation in party management, asking whether the ADC would build a competent bureaucracy in its secretariat or simply fill it with loyalists. He raised concerns about funding, policy direction, and the absence of a clear manifesto, recalling that previous agreements included drafting a new manifesto to avoid the pitfalls seen in APC, which abandoned its campaign promises after 2015.
He stressed that Mark’s leadership must go beyond producing candidates for 2027, urging coalition members to stay united and ensure success, even at the state and local levels.
Highlighting Kaduna as an example, Lukman warned against allowing divisive politics of religion and ethnicity to persist, calling for inclusive leadership across all 23 local governments and 255 wards.
“We must ensure ADC becomes an equal-opportunity platform. Any leader associated with divisive politics must reform to be part of our vision,” he said.
Lukman expressed confidence in ADC’s potential but warned that within six months, the party must show evidence of internal democracy and reform. “If not, it would mean ADC and the coalition have failed, and we should reconsider participation in the 2027 elections,” he added.
He concluded by urging Senator Mark to provide the leadership necessary to make ADC the truly democratic alternative Nigerians are seeking.