Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has said that the formation of a coalition by opposition leaders in Nigeria debunks the narrative that the country is drifting towards a one-party state.
Fashola, who also served as Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, made the remarks during a one-on-one interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise on Saturday.
“There are several things to take away from these developments,” he said. “Perhaps the most important is that they disprove the widespread claim, made about eight weeks ago, that Nigeria was heading for a one-party system. The emergence of an opposition of some substance—whatever that substance may be—proves otherwise.”
Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the coalition could mark the reawakening of a long-dormant opposition.
“I respect the right to associate,” he said. “Nigeria may well benefit from what seems like the reawakening of the opposition after a prolonged slumber. In my view, the opposition effectively abandoned its responsibility over the past two years.”
However, he cautioned that forming a coalition alone is not sufficient without presenting a clear and persuasive alternative.
He stated, “This is also an expression of freedom—freedom of association, freedom of choice—and I fully respect that. Politically, I’m keen to see how it unfolds. It’s one thing to unite and declare an intention to change Nigeria; it’s quite another to offer a credible plan.”
“What is the alternative message? Without a manifesto or a detailed programme of action, it’s difficult to judge how convincing the coalition will be. But the journey is far from over.”
Fashola’s comments follow the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by several opposition figures as the platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Key figures behind the coalition include the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party’s Peter Obi; and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The ADC has since appointed former Senate President, Senator David Mark, as its interim National Chairman, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as interim National Secretary.
The party claims it has the strength to win the 2027 election, though the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) insists that any coalition against President Tinubu’s re-election bid is bound to fail.