The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the recent coalition efforts led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing them as a desperate attempt to replicate the historic 2013 merger that gave birth to the ruling party.
APC’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, made the remarks during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, stating that the current ADC-led alliance lacks the strategy, leadership, and national appeal that defined the original APC formation.
According to Arodiogbu, unlike the formidable coalition that united the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) under Bola Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a faction of the New PDP led by Atiku Abubakar, and other parties in 2013, the ADC’s current effort is a “coalition of strange bedfellows.”
“Why should we be bothered about people running to the ADC? Unless APC governors, senators, or key leaders are defecting, there’s nothing to worry about,” Arodiogbu said.
He argued that the APC’s strength in 2013 was rooted in Tinubu’s political network and Buhari’s grassroots popularity, particularly in the North, which brought over 12 million loyal votes to the party.
In contrast, he said, the ADC is only attracting disgruntled politicians without any unifying ideology or electoral strength.
“They’re simply trying to imitate what APC achieved a decade ago, but without the political capital or groundwork.
What they have is a patchwork of displaced PDP and Labour Party figures looking for relevance,” he added.
Arodiogbu also took a swipe at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who has been linked to the new coalition, suggesting his involvement is driven by personal frustration after being excluded from President Tinubu’s cabinet.
“Should we take El-Rufai seriously just because he didn’t get a ministerial slot? That’s not ideology — that’s entitlement. Beyond him, who in that coalition commands any real influence?” he asked.
He reaffirmed that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing economic reforms and tackling systemic waste, which he said sets the APC apart from opposition groups “masquerading as alternatives.”
Arodiogbu concluded by stating that the APC remains united and strong, gaining more lawmakers and governors, while the ADC coalition lacks the structure and credibility to threaten the party in future elections.