By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), by some opposition leaders as a welcome development and a sign of a healthy democracy.
Speaking on Saturday after casting his vote in the local government elections in Surulere, Lagos State, Gbajabiamila said opposition coalitions are vital for democratic balance.
“A functioning democracy must accommodate opposition voices,” he said at the Elizabeth Fowler Memorial Primary School polling unit. “There has to be some level of opposition to avoid the dangers of a one-party state.”
He emphasized the role of strong opposition in ensuring checks and balances and preventing authoritarian drift.
While acknowledging the importance of political plurality, Gbajabiamila expressed doubts about the sustainability of the new coalition around the ADC. “I’m not sure where it will go – if anywhere,” he said.
Despite this, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives reaffirmed the value of alternative voices in enriching governance and fostering political maturity.
Gbajabiamila commended the peaceful conduct of the elections in Surulere and urged citizens to engage more actively in grassroots politics, which he described as critical to effective governance.
He concluded by encouraging political leaders to put the nation’s interest above personal ambition and to promote unity across party lines.
