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