In every functional democracy, a strong opposition is not merely desirable—it is essential. Opposition parties serve as the conscience of governance, offering checks and balances, alternative policies, and a voice for citizens who are not aligned with the ruling party.
However, in Kaduna State today, the opposition landscape is anything but strong or united. If the current trajectory continues, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may find the road to victory in 2027 remarkably smooth—not necessarily because of overwhelming popularity, but because of the disarray within the opposition.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once the dominant political force in Kaduna, has suffered a severe erosion of structure and confidence. The wave of defections—especially by key figures at both the state and local government levels—has hollowed out the party’s grassroots base. Many of those who once sustained its mobilization machinery have either joined the APC for political survival or have simply gone dormant. What remains is a shell of a party struggling to reconcile internal factions and regain relevance in the political conversation of the state.
The Labour Party (LP), which emerged as a promising alternative during the 2023 elections, is now bogged down by a protracted leadership crisis. Competing factions, both at the national and state levels, have turned the party into an arena of infighting and litigation. Instead of consolidating the goodwill of the “Obidient Movement” and building a robust grassroots structure, the party has dissipated its energy on internal battles. In Kaduna, this crisis has alienated many young supporters who once saw LP as the future. Without a coherent leadership structure and strategy, the party risks losing its moral and political momentum long before 2027.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other smaller coalition parties that once held promise as unifying platforms are similarly embroiled in a crisis of confidence. The coalition that was envisioned to present a formidable “third force” has been weakened by personality clashes, lack of internal democracy, and the absence of a clear ideological direction. The consequence is that instead of forming a united front to challenge the ruling APC, the opposition remains fragmented, reactive, and largely disconnected from the grassroots realities of the electorate.
Meanwhile, the APC government in Kaduna appears to be consolidating its hold through visible reforms, policy continuity, and strategic grassroots engagement. If the economic and infrastructural initiatives being pursued by the current administration yield tangible results by 2026, the ruling party will likely head into the 2027 elections from a position of strength. The opposition, by contrast, risks entering the same race divided, underfunded, and uncoordinated.
A critical mistake the opposition must avoid is waiting for an implosion within the APC. History shows that political implosions, while possible, are neither predictable nor sufficient to deliver electoral victory. Banking on internal divisions within the ruling party as a path to power reflects strategic laziness. The opposition must instead build its own credibility, structure, and message that can independently attract public confidence. Elections are not won by default; they are won by deliberate, disciplined, and sustained effort.
To have any realistic chance in 2027, the opposition in Kaduna must urgently reinvent itself. This reinvention must begin with honest introspection and genuine coalition-building—not driven by personal ambition but by shared ideals and coherent strategy. It must also focus on grassroots mobilization, not just social media rhetoric. The electorate in Kaduna is increasingly discerning; emotional appeals will no longer suffice. People want competence, credibility, and consistency.
Furthermore, the opposition must invest in training, communication, and issue-based politics. Instead of mere criticism of government policies, alternative solutions should be articulated and marketed in a language that resonates with ordinary citizens. Above all, internal democracy must be restored within the parties; no party can project leadership when its internal processes are opaque and conflict-ridden.
Democracy thrives on competition. The strength of the ruling party should not come from the weakness of the opposition, but from the superiority of its ideas and performance. For Kaduna, a more organized, credible, and united opposition is essential—not just for the sake of winning elections, but for the health of democracy itself.
The time for the opposition to reorganize is now. Waiting for the APC to implode is not a strategy—it is an admission of weakness. By 2026, it may already be too late.
Danjuma Sale is a Professor of Neurology at Kaduna State University and also Kaduna State COPDEM Chairman.