The Presidency has predicted that the recently formed coalition under the African Democratic Congress will collapse within six months, citing what it described as a lack of ideology and vision among its members.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, dismissed the strength of the coalition, describing its promoters as “internally displaced politicians” who have failed to present Nigerians with credible alternatives.
Bwala also drew attention to recent comments by Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, who on July 4 warned that the struggle over who becomes the presidential candidate could become a major source of conflict within the coalition.
Baba-Ahmed had stated that while the “excitement” surrounding the alliance was understandable, it needed to be carefully managed so that Nigerians would not be “consumed” by it.
Highlighting these concerns, Bwala said the coalition lacks depth and policy substance.
He said: “What I still find intriguing is that this coalition of internally displaced politicians has not been able to summon the courage to come up with alternative facts, alternative policies, or alternative programmes.
“Throughout the interview you had with Peter Obi, what I observed is that he has not been able to counter or disagree, in the real sense of the word, with the policies of the present government.
“They have not brought a single alternative policy to the table. All they do is criticise and issue press statements. The truth is, they lack vision and have not shown Nigerians they truly care.”
Bwala further argued that the coalition would not last, forecasting its implosion within half a year.
He said: “All this fantasy of coalition — we all know that once there is a phenomenon like that, we are going to have a good two to three weeks of romanticising: ‘we have ideas, we can do this.’
“But one of them, his name is Datti (Baba-Ahmed), has already sensed the danger ahead and said the problem of this coalition will be who becomes the president. Because right now, I’m quoting him, ‘everybody wants to be president.’
“After one month, when they sit down, I am telling you on my honour, in the next six months, that coalition will not even be a conversation. They will scatter.”
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of this unfolding political realignment, the federal government has affirmed the rights of Nigerians to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of association and speech.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who made this known on Tuesday, stressed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would not allow itself to be distracted by political manoeuvres or opposition machinations.
Idris particularly criticised emerging coalitions and political groups for attempting to divert attention from the developmental strides the country was recording.
He stated: “The administration, however, refuses to be drawn into distractions engineered by those who would prefer stagnation.
“The government of President Bola Tinubu remains firmly committed to its core mandate of delivering meaningful reforms and real economic growth for the Nigerian people.”
The Minister also addressed the growing political discourse and media speculation ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a formal statement, he said: “Even as we affirm the right of all Nigerians to freely exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of association and of speech, it is also important to underscore that President Tinubu’s administration will not be sidetracked by politicking or political distractions.
“The clamour in the media about the emergence of a new political ‘coalition’ is understandable, but Nigerians entrusted President Tinubu with a bold and transformative mandate, anchored in the Renewed Hope agenda.
“In just two years, this vision has already begun yielding tangible results. Crude oil theft has plummeted, investor confidence in the oil and gas sector is rebounding, inflation is easing, the Naira is stabilizing, security challenges are being confronted head-on, and millions of Nigerians—households, students, artisans, small business owners—are benefitting from initiatives such as student loans, access to consumer credit, CNG vehicle conversions, and improved government services and infrastructure.
“Two weeks ago, the President signed four ground-breaking tax reform bills into law, marking one of the most ambitious fiscal overhauls in Nigeria’s history. Set to be implemented from 2026, these reforms are expected to significantly boost prosperity for households and businesses nationwide.
“Just before then, the President commissioned the single largest mechanisation drive ever undertaken in Nigeria’s history, marking the launch of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme. This is just one of several high-impact agricultural mechanisation programmes being undertaken to guarantee food security.
“Not surprisingly, emerging coalitions and opposition political groupings do not want a sustained focus on the progress Nigeria is making. The administration, however, refuses to be drawn into distractions engineered by those who would prefer stagnation over reform. The Tinubu administration remains undeterred, focused, and committed to building a more prosperous Nigeria for all.”