Funsho Doherty, Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said the recurring crises across Nigeria’s opposition parties point to a deeper systemic failure rather than isolated internal party problems, insisting that political actors must now consider unity as a necessary response to the country’s democratic challenges.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Doherty stated regarding the internal disputes within the ADC and broader concerns about litigation, factional leadership struggles, and the stability of opposition parties in Nigeria, arguing that the pattern of instability seen across multiple political platforms reflects a wider structural problem affecting the political system itself.
“But I think with the ADC situation now, it’s quite clear to everybody that if the problem appears to be everywhere, then the problem is more with, I think, the system itself.”
Doherty said the pattern of recurring conflict across different political parties shows that the issue is not confined to one platform. “And this is a trend that we have seen across multiple parties. And I’m sure you’ve had many guests who have talked about it from Labour Party to SDP to PDP to ADC.”
He recalled earlier discussions on whether internal crises within parties should be seen as isolated issues. “And in fact, I remember when I was here last, one of the questions that you, doctor, asked me was, is this not an internal problem of PDP? And why are people blaming the ruling party and so on and so forth? And that was a case that we’re having to make, and many people perhaps bought into this idea that it’s an internal matter.”
Doherty said the situation has now made the systemic nature of the problem more visible. “And so I would not say that I have jumped from frying pan to fire in terms of regretting that decision. Actually, what we have mostly decided is that the solution to this problem is that we must essentially unify the opposition.”
He warned that fragmentation weakens political forces and strengthens dominance by the ruling party.
“We must all stand together, because if we stand disparately, we will be divided and we’ll be conquered. This battle is a battle that the ruling party has determined that they are going to fight despite all reasonableness.”
Doherty added that unity remains the central strategy adopted by him and others. “And so we will face those challenges that lie before us today. We will face them together. We are united at the national level. We are united within Lagos state. And we’ll face the battle to the end.”
He also framed the political struggle as one that requires broader democratic participation.
“Because regardless of whether you are for APC or you are for PDP, if you are interested in Nigeria as an ongoing entity, it is in your interest to ensure that democracy, true democracy, survives and the people have a choice.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
