Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has commended the decision of opposition figures to align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as a positive development for Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
Speaking on Saturday after casting his vote during the Local Government Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in Surulere, Lagos State, Gbajabiamila said the adoption of the ADC by opposition leaders signals a healthy shift toward greater political inclusion.
He voted at Elizabeth Fowler Memorial Primary School, one of the accredited polling stations in the area.
Highlighting the need for political diversity, Gbajabiamila noted that a thriving democracy depends on the presence of credible opposition, which serves as a check on the ruling party and helps prevent the emergence of one-party dominance.
“In any democracy, there must be room for opposition,” he told journalists, adding that democracy without checks and balances risks slipping into authoritarianism and losing public confidence.
While welcoming the coalition’s formation, Gbajabiamila expressed uncertainty about its long-term impact. “As for the coalition around the ADC, I’m not sure what direction it will take—if any,” he remarked.
Despite his reservations, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives reaffirmed the importance of having multiple political voices to ensure accountability and national development.
He also praised the peaceful atmosphere during the local elections in Surulere and encouraged citizens to engage more in grassroots politics, emphasizing that local governance plays a critical role in national development.
Gbajabiamila called on politicians to put the nation’s interest above individual aspirations and foster unity across party lines.
