Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is yet to present credible alternatives to the reforms being implemented by the Federal Government.
Dogara, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said the opposition party would not be taken seriously ahead of the 2027 general elections unless it articulates clear policy options that Nigerians can assess against those of the current administration.
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, the former Speaker criticised what he described as a lack of substance in the ADC’s public discourse.
“I haven’t heard the discussion centering on the people. All I hear is anger about one or two things,” Dogara said. “What vision or ideas are they rallying behind? I have yet to see that.”
He added that mere criticism of the government was insufficient without offering workable alternatives.
“Until they bring alternatives to what the President is doing, and we look at them critically and see that they are better than what we have, we cannot take them seriously. In the absence of that, everyone knows it is just gimmicks that will take them nowhere,” he said.
In July 2025, an opposition coalition adopted the ADC as its platform ahead of the 2027 polls. The coalition includes prominent political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former ministers Rotimi Amaechi and Rauf Aregbesola; former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai; and former Senate President David Mark.
The ADC has vowed to unseat the APC, citing rising poverty levels and economic hardship across the country. However, Dogara argued that such rhetoric must be backed by concrete policy proposals.
“That is the kind of talk I hear,” he said, dismissing what he described as repeated complaints without solutions.
No ‘magical wand’
Dogara also urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the economic and structural reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that the country’s challenges did not emerge overnight.
“I think we are on the right track, even if people are not feeling it yet,” he said. “When we talk about challenges relating to security, it took many years to get to the point where President Tinubu took over.”
He stressed that no leader could reverse entrenched problems instantly.
“There’s nobody with a magical wand that can make everything disappear overnight. But from the time he assumed office until now, we have seen leadership in areas that were previously neglected,” Dogara added.
