Tinubu’s Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila Breaks Silence Over Creation of ADC Coalition To Defeat APC
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reacted to the recent formation of a political coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by opposition figures, describing it as a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking shortly after casting his vote during the Lagos State local government elections in Surulere, Gbajabiamila emphasized the importance of a vibrant opposition in sustaining Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. He acknowledged that while it’s uncertain how far the coalition would go, its formation is a welcome step.
“It’s a welcome development with the coalition. It’s not the first time we’re seeing this. In every democracy, we must have some level of opposition, otherwise we’ll run into a one-party state. But I’m not sure where it would go,” he said.
His comments come amid reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders are regrouping under the ADC to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Gbajabiamila also evaluated the conduct of the local government elections in Lagos, describing them as peaceful, free, and fair but lamenting the low voter turnout.
“So far, I’ve seen peace, I’ve seen quiet, I’ve seen free and fair election. A little bit disappointed about the turnout… There is general low turnout from what I’ve seen,” he said.
He stressed the need for improved civic education to increase citizens’ awareness of the importance of local government elections.
“Perhaps people don’t understand fully the importance of local government elections, which is even more important than any other election. We need to sensitise our people. We need to educate them about the importance of grassroots government,” he added.
The remarks by Gbajabiamila come amid divergent views within the APC regarding the concept of a one-party state. While former APC Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, had previously endorsed the idea, claiming it could reduce political distractions, President Tinubu rejected it during his June 12 Democracy Day address.
“Nigeria will not become a one-party state. A one-party state is not in the offing,” Tinubu had said.
In a related development, the Sokoto chapter of the Obidient Movement has publicly rejected any proposal to field Peter Obi as a vice-presidential candidate under the ADC coalition, stating that such a move would betray the aspirations of Nigerians who support Obi as a presidential contender.
