Prominent socio-political advocate Aisha Yesufu has urged the leadership of the newly launched African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition to ensure genuine representation of youths and women in its decision-making structure.
Yesufu, an outspoken supporter of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, voiced her concerns on Wednesday via her X handle. Reacting to the composition of the coalition’s leadership, she emphasized the need for deeper inclusivity beyond symbolic appointments.
“Dear Coalition (ADC), women leader and youth leader positions cannot be what is reserved for women and youths.
You see this table full of older generation men, cannot be the only ones allowed to make the decision as we go on!
Women and youths must be in the midst of decision-making and not as afterthought in the form of tokenism,” Yesufu wrote.
She encouraged young people and women to get actively involved in leadership processes, highlighting the importance of numbers and innovation in shaping the nation’s future.
“Dear women and youths, this is the time for the numbers.
You have to be heard loud and clear. Join! Be part of the leadership!
Be part of the delegates. Be part of floor members.
Overwhelm for good! Bring in ideas from out of the box,” she added.
Yesufu’s remarks came shortly after the ADC was formally introduced as the vehicle for the opposition coalition aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the 2027 elections.
During the unveiling event at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were named as interim National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC-aligned coalition, respectively. The party’s founding chairman, Ralph Nwosu, stated that the ADC leadership had voluntarily stepped aside to pave the way for new direction under fresh stewardship.
