Activist Aisha Yesufu has called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition to ensure genuine inclusion of youths and women in leadership roles, beyond symbolic positions.
In a post shared on her X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Yesufu criticised the current composition of the coalition, which she described as dominated by older men.
She stressed that appointing women and youths only as “youth leaders” or “women leaders” is insufficient.
“You can’t have a table full of the older generation deciding everything,” she wrote. “Women and youths must be part of real decision-making, not afterthoughts or tokens.”
Yesufu, a vocal supporter of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, encouraged young Nigerians and women to step forward, join political structures, and contribute fresh ideas.
“This is the time to show up in numbers. Be delegates. Be floor members. Overwhelm for good,” she added.
Her remarks followed the official unveiling of the ADC as a new opposition coalition platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
The event, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, saw former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola introduced as interim National Chairman and Secretary of the coalition.
ADC’s founding chairman, Ralph Nwosu, announced that party leaders had stepped down to allow the new leadership to reposition the platform and chart a new direction.