August 17, (THEWILL) — The foundation members of the defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD, who gathered in Abuja for a reunion have described the event as unconnected with political matters, even as it is obvious that they held the meeting on the eve of electioneering for the 2027 general election. The timing of the meeting speaks volume.
AD was one of the two three political parties, alongside the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the All Peoples Party, APP which contested the 1999 general election that ushered in the current Fourth Republic and return to civilian rule on May 29, 1999.
Unlike the APP, which later became the All Nigeria People Party, ANPP and much later, merged with three legacy parties to form the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2013, the AD no longer exists.
National Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sen. Seriake Dickson hosted the meeting. In attendance were AD’s founding national secretary, Prof. Udenta Udenta, Chief Michael Odurinde and Dr. Manzo Abubakar, former Protem National Publicity Secretary and leader of the party’s Northern Caucus.
Dickson, a former Governor of Bayelsa State said the meeting was primarily convened to reconnect former colleagues who worked together in the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and not intended to take definitive political positions on contemporary issues.
“However, we all have personal experiences and I can answer that as a person and as leader of the NDC, we are very concerned about the militarisation of states, not just Osun”.
Dickson, who served as Bayelsa governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said his personal experience as an opposition governor had shaped his concerns about the use of state institutions during elections.
“I was an opposition governor. I was the only governor who led Bayelsa to victory in elections in . I know what the federal forces did to me in Bayelsa,” he said.
He said there were legitimate concerns about the conduct of security agencies and other state institutions during off-cycle and general elections.According to him, the concerns extend beyond the ongoing Osun election to other states where elections are scheduled to take place.
“There are genuine concerns about what state institutions will do or may be used for in the course of the upcoming general elections,” he said.
Senator Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, recalled that political ideas rather than financial inducement drove elections in the early years of the Fourth Republic.
He said that when AD and other parties were active around 1998 and 1999, political leaders and candidates did not have to pay voters to secure their support.
“We didn’t have money. Voters were not asking for money. Political leaders and politicians were also not giving money,” he said.
Dickson said the situation had changed significantly, with elections increasingly resembling an auction in which candidates compete through financial inducements.
He said the former AD members at the meeting reflected on the sacrifices made by political actors who contributed to the restoration and consolidation of democracy.
According to him, many of those who worked to lay the foundation for Nigeria’s democracy had made difficult decisions and sacrifices that were often forgotten.
“We reminded ourselves that sacrifices were made, difficult decisions were taken, and people worked their brains out to enable us to have this democracy that we see,” he said.
Dickson said the meeting also provided an opportunity to honour the memory of colleagues and leaders who had passed away. The former governor explained that the meeting was not designed to announce any new political alliance or take decisions on the 2027 elections. He, however, disclosed that he formally informed the former AD members that he and others had started a political party, the NDC.
“As I said, with time, we will discuss, have other conversations and then appropriate decisions will be taken. But not for today,” he said. Dickson said the meeting was primarily an opportunity to rekindle old friendships, rebuild networks and strengthen relationships among former political allies.
Speaking at the event, Udenta said democracy was still undergoing experimentation as the current democratic dispensation was yet to see to the building of strong democratic institutions and provide for the protection of citizens’ rights and enthrone the rule of law and accountability in governance.
“Democracy is not fully achieved simply because military rule has ended. Today, we see a shrinking civic space, weakening democratic institutions, labour organisations under pressure and increasing concerns about state capture,” Udenta said, adding that the current political environment demanded greater vigilance from citizens, the media and democratic institutions, warning that legal authority obtained through elections and court judgments was not sufficient to guarantee political legitimacy.
“A government can be legal yet struggle with legitimacy if citizens are dissatisfied with its performance,” he said.
Like Dickson, Udenta disclosed that the gathering was intended to reconnect members of the political generation that helped shape the transition from military rule, while also providing an opportunity to reflect on the state of the democracy they had fought to establish.
Udenta frowned at the idea that the AD had become irrelevant because it no longer exists as a registered political party. According to him, nothing can be farther from the truth as long as its ideological legacy remains alive in the people who participated in its formation and democratic struggle.
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“It is not a question of whether a party is defunct or not. You say AD is defunct, but I am not defunct. Dr Mansur Abubakar is not defunct.
“We are alive and well, as are many of the party’s leaders, stalwarts, ideologues and founding members across the country,” he said.
According to him, the AD represented civic engagement, social justice and a strong ideological commitment to democratic governance during Nigeria’s transition from military dictatorship.
Udenta also dismissed suggestions that the reunion was a move towards an alliance between former AD members and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying no political decision was taken at the meeting.
“No, not at all—not yet. Our primary objective is to bring our people together, reconnect and determine who is still active and available. Some former AD members are now in the NDC and several other parties. That is not our focus today.” Maybe tomorrow, when the electioneering kicks off, and allies are open to talks to close ranks as comrades.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
