By Ghazali Ibrahim
A fresh crack has emerged within Nigeria’s opposition coalition as Lagos Political Figure Funsho Doherty announced his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while fellow party chieftain Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour remains in the ADC.
Doherty, in a statement issued on Thursday on his official X handle, said the decision followed growing divisions within the ADC, which he noted had weakened its position as a unifying platform for opposition forces.
“We had hoped that ADC would be the vehicle that would unite the opposition. That is now clearly no longer the case,” he said, pointing to a split that has seen some leaders move to the NDC while others, including Rhodes-Vivour, chose to remain.
The former ADC stalwart explained that his defection came after “due consultation, careful deliberation and prayerful reflection,” expressing confidence that the NDC offers a better platform to deliver inclusive governance for Nigerians.
“I am convinced that this is the path that will enable us to deliver the benefits of good governance to every citizen, without exception,” Doherty stated.
His move underscores the deepening fragmentation within the opposition camp, raising questions about its ability to present a united front in upcoming political contests.
Meanwhile, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour’s decision to stay in the ADC signals a divergence in strategy among key opposition figures, with both camps now expected to consolidate their bases amid an increasingly fluid political landscape.
Doherty acknowledged that the road ahead may be challenging but described it as a necessary step toward achieving a long-promised, but still elusive, brighter future for Nigeria.
