Dear Opposition Coalition Leaders,
1. Permit me to offer what I believe is my final counsel on a critical matter that will shape our path to the 2027 general elections. I have engaged many of you personally and through the media to make the case for a more strategic approach. With a decision date now set between fusing into an existing party, the ADC, or adopting to proceed with the registration of a new one, the ADA, I most respectfully make this appeal in favour of the latter. With all due humility, I dire say both approaches are mutually exclusive; they cannot be pursued together as people cannot be in two political parties at the same time!
2. Opting to decamp into the ADC, or any minor existing party, is in my view a wrong strategic move. Its proponents have not articulated any convincing electoral advantage beyond the platform itself. Rather, they rely on vague rhetoric about a “new political era,” without addressing the actual political terrain and electoral calculus of 2027.
3. By contrast, advocates of registering the ADA have grounded their case in logic, strategy, voter psychology and institutional renewal – arguments submitted in their formal reports, presented in coalition meetings and consistently articulated in the public domain. This is the path that aligns with both reason and reality.
4. The ADC carries institutional baggage and credibility issues. Its underwhelming history – highlighted by its misadventures in the 2019 and 2023 election cycles underscores its limited appeal. Fusing into such a party imports its weaknesses and dangers, not strengths nor certainties. New faces cannot erase its political liabilities.
5. Forming a new party like ADA offers a clean slate to shape a credible, compelling identity, untainted by legacy failures. It enables the coalition to define its values, vision and leadership on its own terms. In politics, perception is power – Nigerians are more likely to embrace a fresh beginning than a rebranded relic. As per the account of the proponents of fusing, the only reason they don’t want to go the new party root is that the Electoral Commission is believed to be compromised and so would not register the desired party. If that is the only reason, and assuming it is correct, then how can fusing into an existing party safe them from the axe of the commission seeing that it is the same commission that will conduct the general elections they will be contesting, assuming it allowed them to reach general elections stage. For me, therefore, this is no argument at all.
6. On the other hand, creating a new platform carries the novelty of psychological and symbolic power, especially among youths. We have seen this as a proven political asset. From Macron’s En Marche in France, to Buhari’s APC in Nigeria to Faye’s PASTEF in Senegal, new platforms have sparked real change. The Nigerian youths, disillusioned by older structures, will seek a movement they can believe in.
7. That over 8.92 million Nigerians engaged positively with ADA’s INEC filing in less than 72 hours – more than the votes that elected the current president – reveals public appetite for something new. Reversing course now to embrace a recycled platform risks demoralizing the electorate and losing momentum. Remember, don’t count on bad governance as automatically translating into opposition victory. It doesn’t, as 2019 showed.
8. A new beginning is aimed to reflect this generational desire for change – prioritizing digital engagement, meritocracy, gender balance and inclusivity. These are elements the ADC has had decades to implement and failed to do; and fusing into it would not either. Why repackage a failed product when a new brand promises real impact?
9. Coalition unity thrives on fairness and equal ownership. Fusing into ADC would establish hierarchies of “old” and “new” members, breeding factionalism and resentment. It would also deter new entrants who view it as already captured. At this moment, the opposition must be open, inclusive and transparent to gain trust.
10. A new party allows all partners to co-author the constitution, co-own the structure and shape the manifesto – ensuring legitimacy, coherence and collective identity. The government’s hasty move to hijack ADA’s name underscores its strategic value (but thanks to swift action), our ADA filing was first.
11. Electoral victory demands more than mergers; it requires strategic repositioning. ADA can mount a fresh, targeted national rollout appealing to disillusioned and angry voters. ADC, on the other hand, remains hamstrung by past failures, weak branding and limited reach. Believing that recycled actors can achieve different results through the same vehicle is possible but not likely.
12. INEC’s response since the filing of ADA’s application has been remarkably fair and encouraging. Within five days, it listed all applicants and affirmed its impartiality. Acknowledgment and processing followed swiftly. The outcome now depends on us. Success requires two things: full legal compliance and unified, credible membership capable of winning elections. And unity is key.
13. In conclusion, let me with all respects, reiterate my position that fusing into an existing party may offer the illusion of quick comfort, but it lacks strategic clarity and electoral viability. Other than it opens wide flanks to outside influence, manipulation and mischief, it also would dash public expectations and weaken the opposition’s moral standing. To me, and I could well be wrong, registering ADA, on the other hand, is not just a tactic, it is a principled, forward-looking strategy rooted in sound logic, public appeal and national renewal. It is a logically sound, electorally winnable and morally upright path to building unstoppable momentum, winning elections and preserving Nigeria’s democracy.
14. But ultimately, the choice lies with the coalition leadership. May God guide us all to make the right decisions for our country.
Dr Umar Ardo is a seasoned politician who contested for the Adamawa Governorship election on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP)