Former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, has revealed the strategic reasons behind his decision to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a credible platform to reposition Nigeria's opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a meeting with elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday at the Makurdi residence of Terngu Tsegba, Chairman of the Benue State Steering Committee of the National Coalition Movement, Suswam emphasized that his move was motivated by the need for a people-centered political alternative.
"In the same way PDP was handed to the local people, the ADC is hereby given to the people for full ownership. It is now their platform," Suswam stated during the gathering, which brought together five elders from each of Benue's 23 local government areas.
The meeting served as a preparatory forum ahead of the official unveiling of the ADC in Benue State, signaling a significant shift in the state's political alignment. Suswam's declaration comes at a time when opposition parties are strategically repositioning themselves to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former governor cautioned against political imposition within the emerging structure, emphasizing that joining the ADC should be "a matter of choice and not by coercion." He called for inclusive participation that would allow citizens to freely express themselves within the new political framework.
Suswam also urged party members to rekindle the energy and unity that once characterized the PDP's electoral successes, suggesting that the same momentum should now be channeled into building the ADC as a formidable opposition force.
Political analysts view this development as part of the broader realignment happening within Nigeria's opposition circles, as parties position themselves for the 2027 electoral contest. The ADC appears to be gaining traction as a potential third force in Nigerian politics, particularly in the North Central region.
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