Tunji Shelle is the chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State and former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. In this interview on Inside Politics with Iniobong Iwok on BusinessDay TV (BDTV), he spoke on the party’s efforts to dislodge the ruling party and capture Lagos in the 2027 general election. Shelle also spoke on the tussle for the ADC’s presidential ticket among key leaders of the party. Excerpts:
How is the ADC building structures across Lagos State ahead 2027?
I think they had a wonderful man and governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, and up till now he is still talking and working hard to make sure that Lagosians have good governance.
I mean that good governance is brought to the grassroots. He is always talking, playing the role of opposition politician. You don’t have to be in power, but even if you are in opposition, pursue it vigorously so that Nigerians can benefit from it.
Most Nigerians don’t know this, they want to be in power all the time, unfortunately democracy is being endangered and some of us have to do something about it. ADC is a small party in Lagos that is why we did what we did to welcome everybody to the party. We see ourselves as new members too and in ADC everybody is equal.
What we are doing now is to build the party and give it a semblance of opposition that can compete in 2027. The ADC would reposition the country, I believe it would happen because the people behind it are dynamic, focused and they have experience. They have made mistakes in the past, but they are ready to learn from that. If PDP made mistakes, APC has worsened the situation. ADC would be a better and viable alternative and we shall ensure that we mobilise people. We are monitoring, people are at the top now, they are trying and monitoring people at the top and they are trying to resolve things now.
The party would give the youth and women a chance.
Nigerians are wondering what ADC would do differently; they said many politicians there have failed in the past?
I am not one of those politicians that failed Nigerians, but ADC is here to change the situation and put succour to Nigerians. These people are here to make sure that ADC is properly structured and guarded in the affairs of running the affairs of the nation. People must have made mistakes in the past, they are aware of that and now ready to correct the errors of the past and move forward.
Many people think the fight for the presidential ticket among leaders may cause conflict during the primary. How about that?
Those politicians are working behind the scene and they set a rule for themselves that whoever emerges in the primary, all of them would back and support such a person. What I told you is the consensus today, and I believe it would help the party grow and progress.
Will the party consider zoning?
I would not think so, even PDP that said they zoned, but they made moderation to it; that yes zoning is done, but that anybody can contest for the presidential ticket. But where is the presidential candidate from the south?
But PDP leaders said they are wooing Jonathan. You don’t agree with that?
Is Goodluck Jonathan ready to return to the PDP? He is a statesman and international peacemaker, who is now playing the role of peace ambassador trying to build an image for himself. I don’t think he would want to go back to the party and contest for the number one seat.
Jonathan has not come out to say he is contesting, but his cousin spoke some days ago, that he is free to contest?
His cousin cannot speak for him, even his wife cannot speak for him. He is the one at the centre. I see him as someone who is responsible, well- mannered. How can someone who stays in a safe place where people respect go and join people who don’t have decorum. I mean people who don’t believe in democracy?Democracy is in danger, there are some people who have earned the respect of Nigerians. Jonathan willingly accepted defeat in 2015; I don’t expect him to go back.
So you would be disappointed if Jonathan decides to contest for 2027?
Yes, I would be disappointed, but if he would be the saving grace I don’t mind. But is it PDP that would project him? Definitely not, because some people are right there working for the ruling party, APC, and he would not get results with the way the party is now. Jonathan should not waste his time.
Does it mean the crisis in the PDP cannot be resolved?
The party is in disarray and I think what the leaders are trying to do is to mend fences.
What is your take on the continued defection of opposition politicians to the ruling party?
I am so disappointed in the governors of Akwa Ibom and Delta States; what else do they want? They are supposed to stay behind and fight, but they ran away.
They have the followership, the people voted for them and instead of them to stay and give people good governance they moved. It is for selfish interest, they know that the party in power may make things difficult for them to return.
So, instead of staying behind to fight, they just moved to the ruling party.
That is unfortunate; if the ruling party is doing well today, I definitely would support that decision. We would only be in opposition to challenge what they are doing wrong, so that Nigeria can be a better place for all. When you are in opposition and you deliberately join them, it is unfortunate.
There are calls for the Electoral Act to be amended so defecting politicians can lose their seat. Do you support that?
I don’t know why the judiciary is not doing the right thing; the judiciary is also part of the problem. When you take a genuine case to the court, it is thrown out on technicalities and frivolities.
I hope new things will start happening, when ADC comes to power, there should be judiciary reforms and electoral reforms too should take place.
Somebody who took the fourth place, the other day became the governor, what kind of law and what is that.
Do you have confidence in the electoral system and what reforms are you calling for?
I don’t have any confidence in the current electoral system, INEC and the way it does things. When I was PDP chairman in Lagos, I wrote many protest letters to them. Even when we won elections they upturned it, even when they were manipulating the voters’ register, I even wrote them. So many of these people were given houses in GRA to work for the party in power.
On one occasion, they even had to change the director of operation, yet, they made sure he was serving that purpose.
Do you support calls for the appointment of INEC chairman to be advertised just like in some countries?
That is what should be done, we want people of character to be in positions of authority and I don’t expect the present administration to do that because they know it would not favour them.
But we want people of character in such positions of responsibility and they can advertise it. People that are canvassing for electoral reforms are not sleeping, it is for these reasons.
There should be electoral reforms, what you have just cited is a good example; let them go before the Senate for screening. I know even the Senate we have is a rubber stamp; let Nigerians themselves determine who becomes the INEC chairman.
What is your take on President Bola Tinubu’s reforms?
Everybody would do one reform or the other just to ensure things are better. Unfortunately, APC does not set its priority right.
They are building roads, which is important for people to move their food up and down, but it is not complete, yet the government moved to build coastal roads that are costing trillions of naira.
