Coalition: “Focus Should Be on National Agenda, Not 2027 Ambitions” – Lukman

A leading member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former APC chieftain, Salihu Lukman, has emphasised that the immediate focus of Nigeria’s emerging opposition coalition should be on building credible structures and presenting a viable national agenda, not just chasing the 2027 presidential ticket.

In the Morning Brief Programme with Channels TV on Wednesday, he addressed rising speculation over the ADC’s presidential candidate, Lukman clarified that the coalition, with the ADC as its political platform, is still in its formative stages.

According to him, meaningful negotiations are ongoing to establish robust political structures capable of winning public trust.

“Our major preoccupation right now is what we do moving forward. When people engage us on who is going to be the Presidential candidate of the ADC, they forget that the Coalition, whose vehicle is ADC, is just starting. We have an entity recognised by the INEC, but the structures are yet to be put in place; there’s a negotiation going on to put the structures in place.”

Lukman warned against repeating the mistakes of the past, particularly referencing his experience as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I was part of the APC from the beginning; we promised heaven and ended up becoming a disappointment,” he admitted. “We don’t want to repeat those kinds of experiences.”

He criticised what he described as an unproductive focus on painting President Bola Tinubu in a negative light without offering concrete alternatives. “Painting President Bola Tinubu bad without presenting a proposal that would move this country forward is setting Nigerians up for another disappointment,” he cautioned.

Calling for internal discipline and selflessness within the coalition, Lukman urged political actors to “suspend the declaration of self-interest” until a clear framework is in place. “We are not saying they should swallow their ambition but that the first things should be done, which is putting rules in place that when you declare and promise Nigerians, you can be able to deliver what you promised.”

Lukman concluded with a call for genuine nation-building, stressing that Nigerians deserve a leadership that delivers on promises, not another change that leads to further decline.

“We don’t want another situation whereby governments are changed and things get worse,” he said.