By Dan-Auta Dabai.

In every democracy, the strength of the opposition determines the health of the nation. When
opposition parties collapse under the weight of infiltration, greed, manipulation and internal
betrayal, democracy itself suffers.
Today, many loyal members and observers of the African Democratic Congress fear that the
party may be drifting dangerously toward political irrelevance and eventual collapse if urgent
steps are not taken.
What was once seen as a credible alternative platform for Nigerians disenchanted with the
ruling All Progressives Congress is increasingly becoming a theatre of confusion, factional
arrogance, suspicious maneuvers and political opportunism. Rather than consolidating its
structures nationwide, the party appears trapped in endless internal conspiracies allegedly
fueled by desperate political actors and embedded moles whose loyalty lies elsewhere.
At the Centre of growing controversy are allegations that some individuals strategically planted
within the party structure, especially at the Zonal, National Executive and National Working
Committee levels are deliberately weakening its structures within in order to advance the
interests of rival political tendencies. Loyal party members across several states now openly
whisper about coordinated efforts to hijack the party machinery and redirect it towards
personal projects rather than institutional growth. Particularly disturbing are allegations
surrounding the activities of certain officers, especially within the office of the National
Organising Secretary, accused by aggrieved stakeholders of weaponising administrative powers
to manufacture crises, undermine authentic party structures and create artificial tensions
designed to favour external political interests and other moles within the coalition tendencies.
Whether these allegations are eventually proven or not, the perception alone is already causing
deep distrust within the rank and file of the party.
Many long-standing party faithful who laboured through difficult years to sustain the party
before it became politically fashionable, now feel abandoned, and insulted.
Instead of inclusion and reconciliation, they complain of arrogance, intimidation and calculated
sidelining by some self-appointed “ leaders “ who suddenly emerged after sensing possible
electoral value in the platform. Most of these self-acclaimed “leaders “ can not win their polling
units.
The Bitterness Is Understandable:
Political parties are built through sacrifice, loyalty and years grassroots labour, not through
political migration accompanied by entitlement and contempt for existing members. Yet, many committed party officers and supporters alleged that they are now being treated as strangers,
while new comers behave like conquerors who merely captured an abandoned territory.
This Dangerous Culture Of Arrogance May Prove Fatal:
History has shown that opposition parties collapse not only because of attacks from ruling
governments, but because of internal greed, ego battles and betrayal from within. The inability
to manage competing interests, respect existing structures and build trust among stakeholders
often destroys parties long before elections arrive.
If Truly There Are Moles Working For The Interests Of External Political Blocs Inside The ADC,
Which Seem Visible, Then The Threat Is Existential:
No opposition party survives when its internal machinery is compromised by individuals whose
hidden mission is destabilisation, manipulating processes, promoting factional supremacy and
ensuring perpetual internal chaos.
Sadly, The Signs Are Already Visible:
Across several states, parallel structures, distrust among executives, unauthorised meetings,
attempts to sideline recognised officials and aggressive political poaching are recurring
features. Rather than projecting readiness to rescue Nigeria from worsening economic hardship
and governance failures, the party increasingly appears consumed by internal warfare.
Even More Worrisome Is The Silence Of The Leadership In The Face Of These Growing
Concerns:
A serious political party can not continue dismissing loyal members as irrelevant, while
embracing every opportunistic political actor who suddenly arrives with temporary popularity.
Political popularity without institutional discipline is unstable.
The ADC still has an opportunity to avoid political disaster, but only if urgently returns to
principles of fairness, internal democracy, respect for party structures and genuine
reconciliation. The party must resist infiltration, reject political arrogance, question institutional
corruption, especially extorting money from aspirants by various committees set up by the
office of National Organising Secretary.
Otherwise, the painful irony may soon become reality.
Dan-Auta Dabai, is a political commentator on national and global issues. He lives in Abuja