Sowunmi Dismisses ADC Coalition Strategy as Flawed Imitation

The political landscape in Nigeria is currently buzzing with talk of new alliances, but Segun Sowunmi, the convener of The Alternative, has issued a sharp reality check to those attempting to build a united front against the status quo. Speaking on TVC’s Breakfast program this Thursday, the former Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson took aim at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its coalition aspirations, arguing that the group is attempting to replicate a political masterclass without understanding the grit and ideological foundation required to succeed.

Sowunmi’s critique centers on the belief that the “playbook” for a successful political merger in Nigeria was authored and perfected by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari. He contends that the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not a casual arrangement or a marriage of convenience but rather the culmination of years of calculated risk, ideological consistency, and painful groundwork that contemporary coalition seekers seem eager to avoid.

According to Sowunmi, the alliance between the Tinubu-led bloc and the Buhari-led bloc worked because both parties brought established, stable identities to the table. He reminded viewers that Tinubu was deeply rooted in the AD and AC traditions, while Buhari had spent years cultivating a massive, loyal base within the ANPP and later the CPC. When these two forces finally merged, they weren’t just combining names; they were merging two distinct but compatible political materials into a singular, formidable machine.

The critic was particularly scathing toward the current crop of politicians spearheading the ADC-led drive, describing them as a “cheap, fake set of humans” who are trying to play a game on a field they didn’t help build. He argued that you cannot hope to defeat the inventors of a specific political strategy by using their own outdated manual. For Sowunmi, the current advocates of a merger are looking for a shortcut to power without being willing to do the “heavy lifting” that defined the 2013-2015 era.

A major point of contention for Sowunmi is the historical context of the APC’s success. He noted that the Tinubu-Buhari alliance was actually a failure in 2011. It was only after that defeat, and after both leaders were willing to abandon their former party structures and convince other major stakeholders to join a completely new platform, that they found success. This level of sacrifice—the willingness to let go of individual egos and party logos for a greater goal—is what Sowunmi finds missing in the current ADC-led conversations.

He further criticized the lack of grassroots engagement in the new coalition efforts. Real coalition-building, he noted, starts at the base of the parties, not in the boardrooms of Abuja. He accused the current organizers of attempting to build from the top down, a strategy he believes is doomed to fail. By failing to return to the foundational levels of their respective parties, these organizers are ignoring the very people who provide the “political numbers” necessary to win an election.

Using the ADC as a specific case study, Sowunmi pointed out that the party’s current internal turbulence is a direct result of this “top-down” approach. He argued that several individuals tried to hijack the party leadership without respecting the constitutional requirements or the history of the organization. This attempt to “grab it at the top” has inevitably led to a leadership crisis, proving that a house built on such shaky ground cannot withstand the pressures of a national campaign.

The essence of Sowunmi’s message is that political legitimacy cannot be manufactured through a press release or a sudden meeting of opposition leaders. He emphasized that the APC founders spent years in the trenches, refining their message and ensuring their followers were ideologically aligned. In contrast, he views the current movement as a reactionary response that lacks the depth needed to present a credible alternative to the ruling party.

Furthermore, Sowunmi warned that any coalition that does not prioritize constitutional process and internal democracy will find itself mired in litigation and infighting long before the first vote is cast. He urged the opposition to stop looking for a “magic bullet” in the form of the Tinubu-Buhari model and instead focus on creating a new, authentic template that reflects the current needs of the Nigerian electorate.

As the 2027 political cycle begins to take shape, Sowunmi’s comments highlight a growing tension within the opposition. While many agree that a unified front is the only way to challenge the APC, there is little consensus on who should lead it or what the ideological core of such a movement should be. For Sowunmi, until the opposition is ready to engage in the grueling work of bottom-up organizing and genuine sacrifice, their efforts will remain a pale imitation of the 2015 breakthrough.

The conviction in Sowunmi’s delivery suggests that he views the current political landscape as one that requires “re-writing the book” rather than copying old chapters. His intervention serves as a warning that the Nigerian voter is becoming increasingly sophisticated and can easily distinguish between a principled alliance and a desperate grab for relevance by a fragmented opposition.