Osun has presented us with a mirror. We must have the courage to look into it. Our party must become a functioning union of structures, not merely a gathering of personalities. (Photo credit: AH/DBS Archive).
By Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi
The Osun State governorship election has come and gone. While the relative peace surrounding the exercise and the acceptance of the people’s verdict offer hope for Nigeria’s democracy, the outcome must serve as a serious wake-up call to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
For those of us who believe deeply in the ADC project, this is not a moment for blame, denial, or recrimination. It is a moment for honest reflection, urgent rebuilding, and decisive collective action. Constructive truth is not disloyalty genuine loyalty requires the courage to identify weaknesses early enough to correct them.
Under the leadership of His Excellency Senator David Mark, the ADC has emerged as a major force in Nigeria’s national political conversation, attracting experienced leaders, reform-minded citizens, professionals, young people, and Nigerians in the diaspora. That transformation is significant, yet the Osun result reminds us of a hard truth: national visibility, prominent personalities, and public goodwill do not automatically translate into electoral victory. Elections are not won by headlines or campaign podium endorsements; they are won through structures, grassroots relationships, credible candidates, community mobilization, disciplined messaging, and the capacity to protect every vote.
Electoral Integrity vs. Political Capacity
We must acknowledge the importance of electoral integrity. When votes count, tension reduces, peace prevails, and democracy gains legitimacy. The peaceful outcome in Osun was the natural consequence of an electoral process that broadly reflected the people’s choice, a standard Nigerians deserve in every election, especially as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political future comes on the ballot in 2027.
However, a fair electoral environment creates an opportunity, not a substitute for organization. It cannot campaign for us, reconcile our internal differences, mobilize our supporters, or deploy agents. Condemning electoral misconduct like vote-buying and incumbency abuse remains vital, but it cannot substitute for building the political capacity required to overcome them. Osun has presented us with a mirror, and we must have the courage to look into it.
This outcome did not occur in isolation, it followed our performances in Anambra, the FCT Area Councils, and Ekiti. While there were encouraging signs, such as finishing second in the strategic Abuja Municipal Area Council contest, the overall pattern is clear: our growing national profile has not yet been converted into sufficient grassroots strength. Osun was expected to demonstrate significant progress; instead, it exposed the continuing gap between our national ambition and our capacity at the polling-unit level.
Building a Union of Structures
Nigeria’s political history teaches us that a party may possess respected national leaders and still perform poorly if it lacks a genuine connection with ordinary voters. People vote within communities, listening to leaders they trust and responding to candidates who understand their daily struggles. A credible candidate must bring an identifiable grassroots base, community acceptance, and organizational capacity. Similarly, prominent figures joining the party must contribute tangible structures, supporters, resources, and measurable electoral value. The ADC must become a functioning union of structures, not merely a gathering of personalities.
Above all, unity is now an electoral necessity. The ADC cannot afford internal division as it approaches 2027. Legacy members, new entrants, support groups, women, young people, and diaspora structures must all see themselves as equal stakeholders. No faction can weaken another section of the party today and expect to inherit a strong platform tomorrow. The leadership of Senator David Mark has provided us with national credibility; the responsibility now falls on all of us to close ranks and transform the party into a disciplined electoral machine.
The 10-Point National Recovery Plan
If the ADC genuinely intends to win in 2027, our response to Osun must go beyond communiqués and ceremonial meetings. The party requires a measurable national recovery program built on ten strategic pillars:
- Conduct an Honest Post-Election Audit: The national leadership should commission a comprehensive review of Anambra, FCT, Ekiti, and Osun to establish where structures functioned, where votes were lost, and how campaign resources were deployed seeking solutions rather than scapegoats.
- Establish a National Reconciliation Council: Move beyond photo opportunities to form joint mobilization teams, shared responsibilities, and functional cooperation from the national level down to the wards.
- Revalidate Party Structures Nationwide: Verify every state, local government, ward, and polling-unit structure. Where structures exist only on paper, they must be rebuilt with clear performance benchmarks.
- Prioritize Grassroots Credibility in Candidate Selection: Evaluate candidates on community acceptance, public service record, and mobilization capacity, ensuring popularity within party meetings is never mistaken for popularity among voters.
- Build a National Polling-Unit Operation: Train and deploy ADC agents, mobilization officers, and a secure result-reporting structure in every polling unit, backed by legal and evidence-management teams prepared well before election day.
- Develop a Clear Message for Ordinary Nigerians: Present a practical, alternative economic and governance framework that directly addresses the cost-of-living crisis, insecurity, unemployment, electricity, education, and healthcare.
- Mobilize Women, Youths, and the Diaspora: Place women and young people at the center of campaign leadership and policy development. Simultaneously, integrate diaspora expertise in communications, fundraising, data management, policy research, and international advocacy.
- Create Sustainable and Transparent Campaign Financing: Establish a transparent fundraising and disbursement system that allows members at home and abroad to contribute confidently while ensuring strict accountability.
- Build Principled Alliances: Engage democratic forces willing to work for national renewal, ensuring coalitions are guided by integrated structures and shared electoral strategies rather than surface-level public appearances.
- Treat Vote Protection as Electoral Defense: Systematically monitor every result sheet, electronic transmission, collation center, and legal process with trained, disciplined personnel to protect the voters’ mandate from the polling unit to the final declaration.
The Time to Act Is Now
The ruling party is consolidating power, expanding its structures, and preparing to exploit every weakness within the opposition. The ADC cannot respond with optimism alone; we need organization. Voters do not automatically transfer their frustration with an incumbent government to the opposition, we must earn their confidence by demonstrating unity, competence, discipline, and readiness to govern.
Osun must become our turning point. Electoral integrity gives us a fighting chance, but only political organization can convert that chance into victory.
I remain convinced that the ADC possesses the leadership, human resources, national reach, and historic opportunity to provide Nigeria with the alternative it urgently needs. But potential is not victory. If we must win in 2027, we must rebuild our structures, reconcile our differences, select candidates connected to the people, and protect every vote.
History has given us an opportunity, but history will not wait indefinitely. We must rebuild. We must unite. We must organize. And we must begin now before it is too late.
Hon. Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi is the longest-serving former Continental Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) and a former NIDO Worldwide Coordinating Chairman. Former National Deputy Chairman (Diaspora Engagement), Member, ADC National Executive Committee & Chairman and He currently serves as Chairman of the African Democratic Congress–Diaspora Network (ADC-DN).
