Promoter and Chief Convener of The Alternative, a pan-Nigerian political movement, Segun Showunmi, has slammed the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a “coalition of commotion, confusion, and corruption.”

Speaking at the Southwest Town Hall Meeting of The Alternative on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Showunmi, also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticised prominent opposition figures for abandoning their parties and forcefully taking over the ADC.

According to Showunmi, rather than building new ideas, the coalition is recycling old political actors whose records show nothing but failure and disorder.

He said, “That party, the ADC, has been in existence for some time. Some of our people have been there and they even had contested issues around their chairmanship.

“Yet, today, you have left your own party and rushed in there. If you had entered quietly like decent people, people would have respected you. But what are you doing? You’re huffing and puffing as if the party never had members. Who will follow such people?”

The former aide to ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, dismissed the opposition coalition as a tired repeat of political recycling, likening it to a never-ending game of musical chairs.

“When people ask me what I have to say about the coalition or whatever they call it, I just say: the merry-go-round of the musical chair they have been doing since 1992 did not work for them and will not work now,” he said.

While noting that Nigerians still have time to decide if President Bola Tinubu deserves re-election, the PDP stalwart urged voters not to fall for what he called a repackaging of failed political actors.

“In the meantime, we may not know who is fit to lead, but we know these ones cannot do anything. It will be a waste of everybody’s time even if they try it,” he said.

Showunmi explained that The Alternative was birthed to reshape Nigerian democracy and to address issues such as voter apathy, vote-buying, and divisiveness.

He emphasised the movement’s goal of presenting credible, forward-thinking leadership options ahead of the 2027 elections.

Also speaking at the event, the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, echoed Showunmi’s sentiments, warning Nigerians not to fall for what he termed the “repackaging of political despots.”

“We must all come together to salvage the country. What we need is a coalition of progressive-minded Nigerians, not recycled failures parading as saviours,” Arabambi said.