Olalekan Abdulmojeed Anjolaiya, an entrepreneur and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, is seeking a seat in the House of Representatives for Alimosho Federal Constituency in Lagos. The ADC stalwart recently discussed the Supreme Court ruling affecting his party, the opposition's growing strength, and his plans for the constituency.
He described the court judgment as a watershed moment for Nigerian democracy. "It's a victory for all opposition parties," Anjolaiya told reporters during an exclusive interview.
According to him, the ruling prevents Nigeria from sliding into a one-party state before the 2027 election. Opposition leaders can now unite under one umbrella without fear, he noted.
Anjolaiya said the judgment was never in doubt. He rejected suggestions that he'd been surprised by the outcome.
The APC had attempted to destroy the ADC like it did the Labour Party and PDP, he alleged. Opposition figures saw this coming from miles away.
He was scathing about Nafiu Bala's faction within the party. Bala's so-called national convention drew nobody, Anjolaiya pointed out.
Bala had signed documents transferring leadership to David Mark but later denied knowledge of the transfer. The logic doesn't hold up, according to Anjolaiya.
INEC monitored the entire process and approved Mark's assumption of power. The party had plenty of evidence backing the transfer.
When asked if the ADC was battle-ready for 2027, Anjolaiya responded with a resounding yes. Party members understand what's at stake.
He expects the ADC to announce its primary election timetable within 48 hours. Forms pricing will be released from presidential level down to local assembly races.
The Independent National Electoral Commission set April 22 as the start date for primaries across all parties. Candidates must submit their nomination lists by a specific deadline.
With the court crisis now resolved, parties face a compressed four-week window for serious campaign activity. It's similar to what the ruling APC already experienced, Anjolaiya noted.
The ADC aspirant expressed confidence in his party's trajectory heading into the election cycle. Opposition coalitions are stronger now than ever before, he insisted.
Major opposition figures across different parties are exploring collaboration and unity platforms. This wasn't possible under the cloud of the party's internal legal dispute.
Anjolaiya believes voters will finally have real choices in 2027. The dominance of a single party is no longer inevitable, he argued.
His remarks reflect broader optimism within opposition circles following the court decision. The ruling effectively handed them new political life at a critical moment.
ADC members now prepare for internal contests to select candidates for various offices. The stakes have never been higher for the party's growth prospects.
