By admin – Dr. Imo Emmanuel
The history of Nigeria corporate governance environment before and after Independence in 1960 is always embellished in power struggles significantly achieved through coming together of people of political like- minds across lengths and breaths of Nigeria geographical territory.
This coming together of diverse groups of people is better described as coalition. Political party from simplistic definition is assemblage of people who have common goal of winning political positions for governance administration of their people. Democracy of this contemporary era was copied from ancient Greek where free adults come together to appoint leaders over them and group of people from them to be representatives in decisions making in the City square.
This form of governance has received global acceptance as best form of governance. It is what Abraham Lincoln described as government of the people from the people and to be people.
In Nigeria, the leading political parties that navigated national discourse from Independence to first military coup in 1966 were the NPC, NCNC, & AG.
Two of these leading parties always joined forces together in coalition to form a simple majority in the parliament that becomes a government because the country was under Parliamentary democratic governance as was practice in Britain Nigeria colonialist. Nigeria was in Parliamentary democratic governance from Independence to 1966 when first Republic was ousted by military coup. From 1966 to 1979 military administration held sway abolished civil rule and civil engagements.
The 1979 civil rule was a departure from parliamentary democratic governance because it was rooted in Presidential democracy meaning that the President has combined powers of Head of State and Head of Government.
The same power structure subsisting in USA. However, the power struggle among political players remained tensed, as game of number and majority votes earned by a candidate significantly determine declaration of an election winner and returned elected for executive and legislative positions in governments of Nigeria. The same political atmosphere of coalition rekindled itself among six major political parties. The case of Presidential governance made it clear through legal interpretation that a winner must be declared by the electoral umpire when the candidate has scored highest number of valid votes casted and have 2\3 lead in 36 States of the Federation and FCT Abuja for the president.
Highest number of valid votes casted and secured 2\3 lead in the local government areas of a State for Governors. Therefore for a politician cum a candidate in election such as presidential or gubernatorial elections to come out victorious he must work together with people across the breathe of the country to seek, secure and defend these votes casted for him. These coalition of people must be trusted from political Wards, Local Government and State capital dedicated for this service. This was the nature of governance politicking the presidential system induced into Nigeria unlike the parliamentary governance with leaders were limited to seek for votes from their respective representatives constituencies later through collegians system elect the Head of Government.
However, the Second Republic was ousted in December 31st 1983 by the military which governed from 1983 to 1999 with brief inconclusive civilian rule in 1992-1993 under Chief Shenikon as Interim Government. The death of Abacha paved way for General Abubakar to hold short transition government of eleven months and handed over to the civilian Government of President Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party on 29th May, 1999. Since the return of fourth Republic in 1999, the same political scenarios have double its degrees of politicking in Nigeria.
The main political parties since 1999 includes: Alliance for Democracy -AD, All Peoples Party-APP and Peoples Democratic Party- PDP. These were platforms for seeking people’s mandate to secure victory that form government. The Peoples Democratic Party- PDP won the inaugural presidential election.
The Peoples Democratic Party
The origin and formation of the Peoples Democractic Party is still clear in the memory of many Nigerians. A group of eminent Personalities of 34 called G34 under the leadership of former Vice President Sir Alex Ekwueme went to then Head of State, General Abacha to demand for genuine and short term transition to get a credible civil rule rather than what was observed in Babanginda transition few years.
They discouraged him(Abacha) from self transition from military to civil leadership. This group of eminent personalities later transmuted to full political party in 1998 when Abacha died on 8th June 1998 and Chief MKO Abiola demised a month after. This coalition of elites made up of most powerful individuals metamorphosed from G34 to a political party called peoples Democratic Party. Other founding fathers and members were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief Edwin Umezuoke, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Chief Onoh, Chief Bananas Gemade, Chief Olawoyin, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Dr. Chuka Okadigbo, Bar Humphrey Anumudu, Chief Olusola Saraki father of Bukola Saraki, Chief Joseph Anene, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu and others.
The founding members of PDP comprised a coalition of ruling Elites across the country from the North to South who forged common position on National issues in various consultative, constituent and legislative assemblies under various military regime between 1990 & 1998. They are conservatives – Right wing of the political spectrum i.e the Democrats. Therefore it is right and apt to state that PDP is foremost coalition party emerged before and after 1999 return to democracy in Nigeria. The party reigned between 1999 and 2015, the party has produced three presidents: Obasanjo, Yar’dua and Jonathan. At inception, the Party gave Nigeria good governance through consensus politics, apt decision making, collective bargaining and sacrifices. One of those moments was in its first national convention in Jos to pick Presidential flag bearer.
After a consensus candidature in the person of General Obansanjo Rtd, Sir Alex Ekwueme, the founding leader was approached to stepdown for Obansanjo for dual purposes;
(1). To appease the South West and bring them back to national politics due to death of Abiola.
(2). To install a first class military leader with good integrity to stop military incursion in the future and to lay good foundations for stable civil rule in Nigeria. Sir Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme agreed to sacrifice his precious chance to become president to Obansanjo. The candidature of Obansanjo received wild reception and won the election. The choice was apt and justifiable considering his track developmental transformational governance witnessed in his tenor. He was only President that left $63 billion in the treasury, secured IMF/ Paris Club debit rescheduling after payment of $30 billion to exit the country from the Bretton Wood Institution and other landmark reforms.
However, PDP lost of political power at the Centre was an implosion among the successor members in the coalition handling of the death of ex president Musa Yar dua in office in 2010. The Northern Elites wanted a consensus choice of another northerner to replace the demise president and complete his remaining tenor. This arrangement did not alligned with the Consititutional provision on the subject matter, rather the grand law stipulated that the Vice President takes over when his Master is incapacitated in health or death. The consititution was widely followed through the doctrine of Necessity in the National Assembly.
The then Vice President Dr Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as the President to complete remaining tenure of his Principal. He went further to vie for and won 2011 election. However, his re-election bid four years after received discordant tones, his reign in power beyond 2015 was viewed as creating political inbalance in regional equation between North and South. The reign beyond 2015 will be voilation of eight years maximum two tenors expect of President as enshrined in the consititution. It becomes so clear that his re election struggle met brick wall and did not survived.
PDP could not imploded if the then president allowed his ambition beyond 2015. The second term election of Presidency for Dr. Jonathan sparked disallignments from most coalition members in Party that necessitated decamping to new coalition in making. The second reason for the party collapse to another coalition is corruption and money bags politics. The former Central Bank of Nigeria- the CBN and the Emir of Kano accused the then Government of corruption and high cost of governance especially in the two arms of government cross Federal and States. He stated that the government at the centre could not account for over $22 billion from NNPC and 2/3 of Nations revenue is used in servicing elected officials in government across spectrum at the detriment of the citizens. This growing concerns was fully exploited by the new coalition- the All Progressive Congress-APC to defeat the PDP that claimed to rule Nigeria for the next sixty years. This dream boast abruptly ended in 2015 after sixteen years in reign.
The All Progressive Congress – APC
The disintegration of some founding coalition members of the Peoples Democractic Party especially in the North against re election of Dr Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 was fully harnessed by some major political oppositions. In 2012, the then leader of Action Congress – AC from the Alliance for Democracy by 2010 became Action Congress of Nigeria under Bola Tibunu former Lagos State Governor met with the then leader of Congress for Progressive Change – CPC Maj. Gen Mohammed Buhari at the burial condolence of the latter first daughter discussed the Coalition. At the final formation of the APC, these political coalitions registered their presence:
- All Nigeria Peoples Party – ANPP led by Dr. Ogbonna Onu.
2.Action Congress of Nigeria – ACN led by Bola Tibunu.
3.Congress for Progressive Change -CPC led by Mohammed Buhari.
- Fraction of All Progressive Grand Alliance – APGA led Rochas Okoroacha.
- The nPDP led by Bukola Saraki. Other members of the Coalition include: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Fayemi.
In the political landscape, the entire structures of political organizations and groups are crumbling to One Party State. Under the reigns of the APC from 2015 to 2025, the change mantra were negative change, many broken promises, increasing hunger and suffering due to subsidies removals from petroleum and electricity, impart from foriegn exchange floating against local currency and regular heavy borrowings. Other factors are crisis inducements in other leading opposition parties to ensure APC remained only potion for people seeking elective post and electorates ahead of next general election, judiciary manipulation.
These socio-economic insecurities and other infractions of the Ruling Party and their Government motivated yet another coalition into existence. So on the 2nd of June, 2025 a new Coalition emerged named African Democratic Congress – ADC with sole mandate to stop Bola Tibunu from actualizing his return to Aso Villa in 2027, rescue Nigeria from One Party State and revamp the Nation-State from failed State.
African Democratic Congress – ADC
Though the party was in existence under the founding Chairman – Chief Raph Nwosu. It was formed about two decades ago. Its presidential candidate in the 2023 general election was Dumebi Kachukwu. The entire National Working Committee under Raph Nwosu agreed to the coalition demand stepped down for the Interim management to oversee the take off of the party.
The coalition leading members include (1). Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the presidential candidate of PDP in 2023 general election (2). H.E Peter Obi presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general election. (3). H.E Rotimi Amaechi, Ex Governor River State and former Transportation Minister (4) H. E. Mallam. El Rufia Former Governor Kaduna State (5). Chief Emeka Ihedioha Former Governor, Imo State and host of others.
At the inuaguaral meeting in Abuja the ADC National Working Committee under Mr. Raph Nwosu was dissolved and new Intermin management emerged as follows:
(1). David Mark the Interim Chairman from PDP,
(2). Rauf Arogbogosola Interim Secretary -APC,
(3). Mr. Bolaji Abdullahali the Interim Publicity Secretary APC.
The ADC coalition become a strong alternative platform put forward to raised hope of challenging and remove the ruling APC, reshape the ailing political landscape of One Party State and change the current socio-economic narratives in the country. Though, the Coalition seek to register a political party called African Democractic Alliance -ADA, the national electoral body-INEC has denied its registration, so the ADC became the platform to actualize this quest. The coalition has received mixed attention across party lines and from across spectrum of the Nigeria society.
Since it’s emergence June 2025, indeed the political landscape have received new atmosphere. While the ruling party and presidency have tagged it a sojourners of old wood politicians with no political relevance and will soon demise. The Coalition is fast attracting membership across the country. Many top politicans from APC, PDP, NNPP, SDP and LP have seek membership of the party in their various State levels.
Days ahead promises to unveil dynaminism of politicking ahead of release of electoral timetable for political activities leading to 2027 general election by INEC. This will determine survivability of ADC coalition. However, the sterling question in the minds of many Nigerians especially well meaning people is “this ADC a truly coalition with difference to be trusted for the rescue mission for Nigerians or are they another new container bearing old cargoes”? The ADC should by all moral, processes and procedures prove to Nigerians and all other doubting Thomases that they have come to effect positive changes, capable to offer Nigerians good governance they yearned for. They are not Party for business as usual seen in the last two decade within leading parties in the land APC-DPD.
The ADC coalition leadership under Sir David Mark a disciplined and respected Nigerian in his military and civil service, the longest serviced and peaceful reigned Senate president of Nigeria have to bring to bear his seasoned wealth of knowledge to stir this coalition to glory. The ADC coalition must be weary of the following pitfalls of other parties that tested power in Nigeria.
These pitfalls are politics of tribalism, politics of money bags, mediocrities of stomach infrastructure, prai singing and many more.
- The Politics of Tribalism Ethnic and Religious Bigotry: These vices of tribalism or nepotistic politicking have several negative effects on governance system and makes the country ungovernable. The moral and behavioral tendencies to see Nigeria first the from viewpoint of tribal linings rather than nationalist view of entire country have posed grave challenge to the integration and unification of the country. Some groups of people in Nigeria sees themselves as superior others second class or third class is direct effects of tribalism and not be uprooted from mental of Nigerians.
The ethnicity rivalries in the country especially in the governance cycle is another effects of no m ethnic bigotry. The success of failure of many governments are first ascribed to their root to ethnic groups they comes from. This sentiments must be erased from the mindframe of ADC. The watchword of the coalition should be ” Nigeria first” must be central to whatever they do. The Nigeria as geographical entity must be habitable in good condition first ( any threats or harm to any part is threats or harm to entire the whole).
It is on this note that Nigerians must come to terms that any tribal crisis any where in Nigeria territory whether Fulani/ Hausa/ Nupe or Tiv etc in the North or Yoruba/Igbo/ Efiki/ Ijaw etc in the South all happened to entire Nigeria territory. Nigerians hailed from Bayelsa to Borno or Lagos to Zamfara are the same people before God the Creator and men local and international. The politics of tribalistic sentiments should be resisted by ADC.
- Politics of Money Bags.
The biggest monster in the Nigeria political, socio-economic landscape is the money bags syndrome. It should be completely shunned by the ADC if they desired to bring long lasting change in the polity. The inaugural conventions and parties primaries conducted in Nigeria before the birth of 1999 democracy should serve as reference point to them. They weredone without money politics across the leading Political Parties.
It was a consensus choices to microzone the presidential candidate to South West to resolve Political stalemate to region as result of death of MKO Abiola the winner of 1993 presidential election. While PDP fielded Chief Obasanjo who was not founding member of the party but meet critical needs of the country was offered the position to contest, sacrifices and concessions were made but not on monetary exchange. President Obasanjo surpassed all expectations from the party and Nigerians. The All People’s Party -APP fielded a seasoned Economist, Technocrat and Federal Minister, Chief Olusola Falaye.
That was a generation of elites that saw the need for transformational leadership.
However, since the money bags politics took over the forefront of governance leadership and administration in the last two decades in party politics of selection of candidates based on highest bidders to political leaders(godfathers) and the same bids to electoral umpire. The money bags syndrome persists in polling centers through agents of candidates in the vote for cash trade from electorates. The electoral system and governance administration in Nigeria have becomes transactional system where the biggest deep pockets emerged victorious.
Since this system came to be have the system prospered the people? Have Nigerians received social security development from their leaders? The answer is capital no. The money politics has devalued the entire Nigeria system, degrade our social and mental framework and have rubbished our justice system. Money politicking has robbed citizens especially the poor and vulnerable many privileges from employment to unemployement, from social amenities and basic necessities of life to abject poverty, hunger, famine and emmigration sprees.
The Elites have become instable and always want more money without any means except through politics. Nigerians who have one million want to get one billion naira next moment, one billion want one trillion next through politics thereby those in public office turned their office to money making means without dignity of labour. This phenomenon has put in place not only money bags but godfathers in the system.
The lawlessness in the polity is a product of money bags politics. When godfathers enthroned less dignified person it gives foolish leadership, he display fragrant foolishness in destruction of rules of law and sees himself above the law. What of economic and financial abuse in the economy?. The first interest of leaders that emerged from money bags is to recover all money spent in the course of elections. He will engage in contract racketing, cost inflation and kick back etc. Money bags bring business transactions into governance instead of professionalism. It is brain behind several elephant and abandoned projects. The appointments in public service and institutions are not felt out, to appoint heads of public agencies and institutions the applicants are required to pay hundreds of million to top government officials to secure his appointment.
He is expected to fund the godfathers affluence through their institutions funds. In the like manner, these heads of public agencies and institutions recover their money through employment racketing from job seekers. The cycle of vices from money bags politics keep derailing development objectives, make politicians offer broken promises to the people while in the office. The list is endless of havocs money bags politics has inflicted to this country. Therefore, ADC must holistically rejected money bags politics.
ADC leaders must learn from the experiences of the founding fathers of Peoples Democratic Party in 1998/1999. The coalition leaders must eschewed everything that could induced them into money bags politics and focused on how to ” better Nigeria”. They traded good negotiation, sacrifices to bring best brain who was non founding member to power. The same manner, Obasanjo Government discovered best brains from around the world such Dr Mrs Ngozi Iwuaka, Dr. Mrs Oby Ezekwesiri, Prof Charles Soludo Late Prof Dora Akunyili and others.
The challenges before African Democratic Party- ADC is huge, bigger in magnitude than 1999 era when it was to stop military reign. Today, Nigeria are now hungry more than ever, economic woes bare damping, Nigeria hopes of good living are mirage, poverty and famine is festering because more Nigerians have no access to employment, many corporate global entities are relocating from the country due to harsh Government policies.
The insecurities socio- economic induced in the country is draining private assets through payment for ransoms in terms of kidnapping, etc. Nigerians are poorer now in the history of the country. Twenty six years after democractic governance in place in Nigeria, Nigerians are now poverty ridden people, insecured, and more hungry. Therefore, if ADC is place to offer difference positive politics, they must come together with mindsets to trade negotiations and sacrifices that will have ways for compentents, capacities and professional hands to take the driving seat of the national governance system once again to stir Nigeria nation away from nepotism, tribalism, money bags and hungry nation to respectful league of nation where wealth creations are for common man. Peoples oriented development thriving through making use of abundant natural and human resources available in our Land.
ADC will receive overhelming Nigerians support when they are indeed poised to serve Nigeria national interest of rebuilding this battered country from the mess of APC coalition plunged this country into.
Arise, Nigerians arise. It is time to fight this war of survival.
God bless ADC, God bless Nigerians
Good blesb!s Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Imoh Emmanuel
write from Owerri Imo State
.