As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, the familiar ritual has begun: political realignments, strategic defections, and coalition building. The most recent manoeuvre is the emergence of a bloc under the banner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a coalition of major political figures now presenting themselves as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
On the surface, this might appear to bode well for democratic competition. After all, democracy thrives on choice. The emergence of a credible opposition or the appearance of one lends the electoral process a veneer of vibrancy. Yet, scratch beneath the surface and the gloss begins to fade.
This so-called alternative is not new. It is merely the familiar repackaging.