A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Salihu Lukman, has raised alarm over internal power tussles within the party, describing the battle for control of its structures as the greatest threat to its stability and future success.
Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja, expressing concern that some party leaders are aligning with specific aspirants for the 2027 elections at the expense of broader unity within the ADC.
He cautioned against what he described as a reckless scramble for control, urging all party members and leaders to halt the ongoing internal wrangling.
“I am making this strong appeal with very deep feeling of disappointment that we are recklessly mismanaging an opportunity to provide the needed leadership to our people,” Lukman said.
He specifically called on prominent opposition figures in Kaduna State, including Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Malam Jaafaru Sani, and Alhaji Bashir Saidu, to stop encouraging divisions by supporting aspirants seeking to dominate party structures to the exclusion of others.
“…May I therefore appeal to Mal. Nasir and all our leaders to please seek to unite all of us. It is only if we are united in ADC that we can be able to unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027,” he added.
Lukman warned that unless ADC leaders in Kaduna set aside personal interests and work together, they would be aiding the ruling APC—either consciously or unconsciously—by weakening the opposition’s chances.
He emphasized that the ultimate goal should not only be defeating the APC but also ensuring the emergence of a government founded on collective leadership under the ADC.
“We must bear in mind, it is not just about defeating APC but more about producing a government controlled by our party (ADC) based on collective leadership,” he said.
Lukman concluded by stressing the importance of rejecting political godfatherism and single-handed leadership, stating, “We need to put an end to the era when we produce emperors as Governors. Anything short of producing a Government managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.”
