Politics
IHEODIOHA AND THE ADC IMBROGLIO: WHEN CREDIBILITY BECOMES A MOVEMENT
Ugochimereze Chinedu Asuzu
“Great leaders do not force people to follow – they simply walk a path so compelling that others choose to walk it with them.”
To accuse Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of “hijacking” the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is not only laughable but betrays a deep misunderstanding of both his political stature and the evolving nature of modern coalition politics. Men of his calibre do not hijack political structures; they attract them. What has unfolded in Imo State is not a seizure of control but a convergence – a strategic coalition-building process, transparently anchored and duly sanctioned by the National Working Committee (NWC), aimed at bringing together credible blocs under a single umbrella for a stronger democratic alternative.
It is imperative to understand that ADC in Imo today operates on two complementary planes: as a political party and as a coalition platform. The latter is deliberately designed to harness the collective strengths of various political forces, build bridges where divisions once stood, and provide a formidable vehicle capable of winning elections. What the coalition model essentially did was to accord every bloc equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities to contribute. But politics, by its very nature, rewards depth and capacity – and therefore, the extent of a bloc’s visibility or influence within the coalition is naturally proportional to the strength of its structure and the weight of its participation. It would be illogical to expect a group with only a handful of members to be more dominant than one that came into the coalition with an already formidable statewide presence. In this context, the entry of the Rebuild Imo Movement is neither unusual nor intrusive – it is the most organic evolution of a coalition designed to aggregate strength.
The truth is that the Rebuild Imo Movement is not just another bloc; it is a deeply entrenched political force with robust organisational capacity and an active presence in all 305 wards of the state. Long before the coalition conversation began, this movement had become a household name in grassroots mobilisation, community engagement, and policy advocacy – more structured and more visible than many full-fledged political parties in Imo. Therefore, anyone who raises eyebrows at their visible footprint within ADC is not defending the party but inadvertently weakening the coalition’s strategic edge.
Moreover, the loyalty and confidence Ihedioha commands are not manufactured; they are earned. When he exited his former party, a significant portion of its membership exited with him – not because of any promised reward or immediate plan, but out of conviction and trust in his political compass. They tarried with him even when there was no definitive direction, an attestation to the depth of his credibility and the strength of his relationship with the grassroots. That kind of political capital cannot be decreed; it must be built, one decade, one alliance, one act of service at a time.
Those peddling the narrative of a “hijack” do so, not because any constitutional breach has occurred, but because they are yet to reconcile with the simple fact that relevance in politics is earned, not allocated. What they mischaracterise as takeover is, in reality, the gravitational pull of leadership. Ihedioha doesn’t capture structures – he builds them. He doesn’t impose his will – he inspires consensus. His political journey has always been one of meticulous strategy, structured inclusiveness, and coalition-building anchored on shared values and collective ambition.
The truth is that the ADC is not under siege; it is undergoing strategic consolidation. It is not fractured; it is being fortified. And as the state begins to look toward 2027, what will matter is not the noise of disgruntled voices seeking relevance, but the weight of enduring structures and the credibility of those who lead them.
The coalition is not a liability – it is, in truth, our most strategic asset, the living proof that strength is born of unity and purpose. And within that coalition, the presence, pedigree, and proven political weight of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON, KSC are not subjects for debate; they are the cornerstone upon which victory itself will be constructed. It is precisely this undeniable reality that unsettles the faint-hearted, unnerves the opportunists, and makes certain fifth columnists tremble at the mere sound of his name – even when it comes as softly as a sneeze.
After all, the ancient jurists taught us a principle as timeless as it is unassailable: ex nihilo nihil fit – you cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand. Aloha
Ugochimereze Chinedu Asuzu
Public Affairs Analyst | September 30, 2023
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
Politics
Electoral act: Senate’s action confirms Nigeria ‘fantastically corrupt’, ‘disgraced’ – Peter Obi
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Senate’s refusal to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory, saying the move further exposes Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt and disgraced country.
Obi expressed his views in a statement shared on X on Friday, where he accused lawmakers of deliberately weakening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He explained that his reaction came after a brief pause to mourn victims of a deadly tragedy in Kwara State, where over 150 people reportedly lost their lives.
“Let us first pray for the souls of the innocent Nigerians lost in Kwara. That painful incident is why I delayed responding to the shameful development surrounding our electoral system,” he wrote.
Describing the Senate’s decision as intentional and dangerous, Obi said rejecting mandatory electronic transmission was not a simple oversight but a calculated attempt to block transparency.
“The Senate’s open rejection of electronic transmission of results is an unforgivable act of electoral manipulation ahead of 2027,” he said.
According to him, the action strikes at the heart of democracy and raises serious questions about the true purpose of governance in Nigeria.
“This failure to pass a clear safeguard is a direct attack on our democracy. By refusing these transparency measures, the foundation of credible elections is being destroyed. One must ask whether government exists to ensure justice and order or to deliberately create chaos for the benefit of a few.”
The former Anambra State governor linked the post-election controversies of the 2023 general elections to the failure to fully deploy electronic transmission of results, insisting that Nigerians were misled with claims of technical failures.
“
The confusion, disputes and manipulation that followed the 2023 elections were largely due to the refusal to fully implement electronic transmission,” he said.
He added that the so-called system glitch never truly existed.
Obi compared Nigeria’s electoral process with those of other African countries that have embraced technology to improve credibility, lamenting that Nigeria continues to fall behind.
“Many African nations now use electronic transmission to strengthen their democracy. Yet Nigeria, which calls itself the giant of Africa, is moving backwards and dragging the continent along.”
He criticised Nigeria’s leadership class, saying the country’s problems persist not because of a lack of ideas but because of deliberate resistance to meaningful reform.
“We keep organising conferences and writing policy papers about Nigeria’s challenges. But the truth is that the leaders and elite are the real problem. Our refusal to change is pushing the nation backwards into a primitive system of governance.”
Warning of the dangers ahead, Obi said rejecting electronic transmission creates room for confusion and disorder that only serves the interests of a small group.
He also recalled past remarks by foreign leaders who described Nigeria as corrupt, arguing that actions like this continue to justify those statements.
“When a former UK Prime Minister described Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt,’ we were offended. When former US President Donald Trump called us a ‘disgraced nation,’ we were angry. But our continued resistance to transparency keeps proving them right.”
Obi warned that Nigerians should not accept a repeat of the electoral irregularities witnessed in 2023.
“Let there be no mistake. The criminality seen in 2023 must not be tolerated in 2027.”
He urged citizens to be ready to defend democracy through lawful and decisive means, while also calling on the international community to closely monitor developments in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“The international community must pay attention to the groundwork being laid for future electoral manipulation, which threatens our democracy and development,” Obi stated.
He concluded by expressing hope that change is still possible if Nigerians take collective responsibility.
“A new Nigeria is possible but only if we all rise and fight for it.”
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