“Coalition may not win presidency, but they are no political pushovers” — Leke Abejide
The only elected federal lawmaker under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Leke Abejide, has issued a caution to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning against underestimating the strength of the new coalition that recently assumed control of the ADC.
Abejide, who currently serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, also hinted at a possible defection to the APC, saying his political alignment and loyalty are clearly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and key figures in the presidency.
Speaking during a recent television interview, the Kogi-born lawmaker described the coalition as a formidable political force capable of shaking the status quo. However, he maintained that despite its potential to gain traction in state and legislative elections, the group does not have what it takes to win the 2027 presidential election.
“They can cause a headache for the APC, and I advise that they are not taken for granted… They will make an impact, but not enough to win the presidency,” Abejide said.
He cited Tinubu’s political resilience during the 2023 elections as evidence of the President's strategic prowess.
“The Asiwaju you see is a master of the game. He won despite fuel scarcity and naira redesign. Now that he controls the system, it is unlikely he will lose in 2027,” he added.
Abejide emphasized that the coalition’s greatest weakness lies in its internal rivalry, particularly the presidential ambitions of key figures like Peter Obi, which he believes may eventually cause the alliance to collapse.
“The problem is candidacy. Peter Obi will not want to play second fiddle. Once this coalition collapses, that is the end. It’s a blessing in disguise for APC,” he said.
The Kogi lawmaker also described the ADC as a party now largely limited to his home state, saying:
“If you speak of ADC, it is only existing in Kogi State. I am the national leader of the party, and the financier. If I move, many others will follow.”
He further claimed that many ADC state chairmen are already planning to defect to the APC, and a mass exodus may be seen in the coming days.
“The people I have things in common with are in APC. Chief of Staff to the President and Hon. Faleke are my leaders. So, you know where I belong already,” Abejide said, clearly hinting that his defection is only a matter of time.
On his strained relationship with ADC 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, Abejide accused Kachikwu of hijacking internal party structures and opposing his 2023 governorship ambition in Kogi State.
“He gathered people to stop me from getting the ticket and even took the party to court over convention issues. That case was just withdrawn from the Supreme Court,” he revealed.
Although he acknowledged being kept in the loop on the coalition’s plans, Abejide said he deliberately declined involvement, asserting that the new alliance is bound to fail.
“I’ve been aware since last year, and Ralph Nwosu tried to bring me in, but I told them I don’t want to be part of it. Many of us in ADC are not on board. You’ll see what happens soon,” he said.
As the lone federal voice of the ADC in Abuja, Abejide’s stance may further weaken the already fractured party, particularly if his defection to APC becomes official in the coming weeks, as he has suggested.
He concluded by noting that in Nigeria’s political climate, it is “not about parties but individuals.”
