Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has applauded the recent adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by a coalition of opposition leaders, describing the move as a positive development for Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
Speaking during the Local Government Area Councilorship and Chairmanship elections held in Surulere, Lagos State, on Saturday, Gbajabiamila emphasized the importance of opposition parties in strengthening democracy.
“There has to be some level of opposition in a democracy,” Gbajabiamila told reporters after casting his vote at Elizabeth Fowler Memorial Primary School, a designated polling unit in the area.
He noted that a healthy democracy requires vibrant, credible opposition to provide checks and balances, adding that without such a structure, the system could drift toward authoritarianism.
“According to him, a functioning democracy must accommodate opposition voices to prevent the risk of reverting to a one-party system,” the report said.
Gbajabiamila added, “He emphasised that the strength of any democracy lies in vibrant and credible opposition that can hold the ruling party accountable.”
Despite welcoming the coalition, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives expressed uncertainty about its future impact.
“However, for whatever the coalition is worth, I am not sure where it will go — that is, if it will go anywhere,” he said.
Nonetheless, he maintained that the involvement of alternative political voices is vital for national progress and political maturity.
Gbajabiamila also commended the peaceful conduct of the local elections in Surulere and urged Nigerians to engage more in democratic processes at the grassroots level.
He said local government elections are crucial to ensuring effective governance at the community level and called on politicians to prioritize national interest over personal ambition.
“Gbajabiamila urged all political actors to place national interest above personal ambition and promote unity, regardless of party affiliations.”
