Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, advised Representative Leke Abejide to dismantle the African Democratic Congress party structure. Africentra has confirmed this exchange occurred during an event regarding political realignments.
Sources tell Africentra that the discussions centered on merging opposition fragments into the ruling All Progressives Congress. Representative Abejide, who represents the Yagba Federal Constituency, remains a key figure in the African Democratic Congress.
This development signals a shift in the administration’s strategy toward opposition parties. The advice to “scatter” the party suggests a move to eliminate third-party threats before the next election cycle.
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Africentra has confirmed through high-level sources that the Chief of Staff made the statement with Representative Abejide while speaking at an event. The primary focus was the future of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kogi State and at the national level.
Gbajabiamila told Abejide to move his supporters into the All Progressives Congress (APC). This instruction was framed as a way to “scatter” the existing opposition structure.
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Abejide has been a loyal ally to the current administration despite his membership in an opposition party. He currently serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs.
This position is often reserved for members of the majority party. His appointment to this role was an early indicator of a private deal between him and the APC leadership.
The question is, who does this affect? Commentators and political analyst called the public comment by the Chief of Statff as careless and said it could affects the voters in Yagba who chose a candidate outside the two main parties. It also affects the internal stability of the ADC as a national political entity.
Many Nigerias also express their displeasure over the comment saying Gbajabiamila used his executive influence to suggest the dissolution of a legally registered opposition party. The accountability question here is whether a Chief of Staff should involve himself in the internal management of opposition parties.
You might wonder why the internal mechanics of a small party matter to the average citizen. This event directly impacts the diversity of choices you have at the ballot box.
When the ruling party absorbs opposition leaders, it reduces the oversight of government activities. A smaller opposition means fewer voices to challenge policy decisions or budget allocations.
The “scatter” strategy aims to create a one-party environment in specific regions. This limits your ability to vote for alternative platforms that might better represent your local interests.
If the ADC structure in Kogi State collapses, the APC gains total control over the region’s legislative representation. This consolidation can lead to a lack of competition in local governance.
Who is responsible for this change? The political leaders who prioritize party expansion over democratic plurality are responsible. You are the one who loses a representative choice.
The national leadership of the African Democratic Congress has expressed concern over these reports. They have not yet issued a formal statement condemning Abejide, but internal tensions are rising.
Party officials tell Africentra that they view this as an attempt to destabilize their base. They argue that the APC is using “poaching tactics” to weaken the legislature.
One senior ADC official stated: “We are aware of the pressure being put on our members to defect.”
In plain language, the party knows its top people are being asked to leave and they are worried about surviving. They see this as a direct attack on the existence of their organization.
The APC has not officially confirmed the specific “scatter” quote. However, party spokespeople frequently talk about the “big tent” policy of President Tinubu.
The “big tent” policy is a polite way of describing the systematic absorption of opposition figures. It masks the aggressive nature of dismantling competing party structures.
What did the ADC do to prevent this? They have failed to provide a strong enough platform to keep their members from looking toward the ruling party for influence.
The data shows why Leke Abejide is a valuable target for the APC. In the 2023 general elections, Abejide won his seat with a significant margin.
He secured over 30,000 votes in the Yagba Federal Constituency. This was one of the few areas where the ADC beat both the APC and the PDP.
The ADC currently holds two seats in the House of Representatives. If Abejide “scatters” the party and defects, the party loses 50 percent of its federal legislative presence.
The APC currently holds a simple majority in the House of Representatives with over 180 seats. They need a two-thirds majority of 240 seats to pass certain types of legislation without opposition support.
Every opposition member who defects brings the ruling party closer to this supermajority. This would allow the presidency to pass constitutional amendments with almost no resistance.
Who does this data affect? It affects every Nigerian who relies on the legislative check on executive power. A lopsided House of Representatives rarely holds the presidency accountable for spending.
Representative Abejide must now decide whether to follow the advice of the Chief of Staff. His decision will likely be made public before the end of the current legislative session.
If he moves to the APC, he risks a legal challenge under Section 68 of the Nigerian Constitution. This law states that a legislator must vacate their seat if they defect without a division in their original party.
However, the courts have rarely enforced this rule in recent years. This lack of enforcement makes defection a low-risk move for politicians seeking more power.
We expect to see more meetings between the Chief of Staff and other minority party leaders. This appears to be a coordinated effort to prepare for the 2027 elections.
What did Abejide do? He has kept his options open while maintaining a powerful committee chairmanship. He is balancing his loyalty to his current party against the benefits offered by the presidency.
This event changes how political parties function in Nigeria. It moves the country away from a multi-party system toward a dominant-party system.
It affects the Electoral Act. If parties are “scattered” through executive influence, the spirit of the law regarding fair competition is undermined.
This decision also impacts the budget process. A legislator who owes his position to a deal with the Chief of Staff is less likely to scrutinize executive budget proposals.
The right of the citizen to have an independent representative is at stake. When a representative is told to “scatter” their party, they are being told to ignore the mandate given by their voters.
Nigerian political history is full of instances where the ruling party absorbs the opposition. In the early 2000s, the PDP used similar tactics to weaken the ANPP and the AD.
This process is often called “mainstreaming.” It involves offering positions or resources to opposition leaders in exchange for their loyalty.
Femi Gbajabiamila is a former Speaker of the House. He understands the mechanics of legislative control better than most people in the administration.
His transition from the head of the legislature to the Chief of Staff allows him to bridge the gap between the two branches of government. He uses this experience to manage political alignments.
This current move is a continuation of a long-standing pattern in Nigerian democracy. It shows that the structure of parties is often less important than the interests of individual leaders.
Africentra has not seen a written transcript of the meeting between Gbajabiamila and Abejide. We are relying on accounts from multiple sources who were briefed on the discussion.
It is not yet confirmed if Abejide has formally agreed to “scatter” the ADC. While he has been seen at APC events, he still holds his ADC membership card.
The exact “reward” for this move remains unverified. There are rumors of a governorship ticket or a higher federal appointment, but these have not been proven.
The APC has not issued a statement confirming that this is an official party policy. They may claim the Chief of Staff was acting in a personal capacity.
What could still change? Abejide could choose to stay in the ADC to maintain his independence. The ADC national leadership could also take legal action to preempt any defection.
The biggest unanswered question is the cost. What is being offered to these lawmakers in exchange for “scattering” their parties? These are public offices, not personal assets.
The advice to “scatter” a party is a direct intervention in the democratic process. It deserves a clear explanation from the Office of the Chief of Staff.
The survival of the ADC as a viable third force depends on how its leaders respond to this pressure. If they fold, the diversity of Nigerian politics shrinks significantly.
