Dr. Tunde Bakare, the founder of Citadel Global Community Church, has revealed that he is experiencing considerable pressure from leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to defect and join their party. Speaking at the Citadel School of Governance Dialogue Series in Lagos, Bakare shared that several prominent politicians, including former governors and ministers from the South-West, have been actively encouraging him to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ADC. He disclosed that the pressure has been persistent, with calls continuing even while he was abroad and visits by ADC representatives to his home.
Despite the ongoing persuasion, Bakare stated unequivocally that he has no plans to join the ADC. He expressed support for a strong opposition in Nigeria, highlighting the need for political diversity and competition, but emphasized his deep loyalty to the APC—a party he played a significant role in forming. According to Bakare, abandoning a party he helped establish would be counterproductive, and he warned against repeating past political crises witnessed in the South-West region.
Bakare’s comments come amid growing political polarization in Nigeria as the ADC has emerged as the opposition platform for the 2027 general elections. The party has attracted several notable politicians dissatisfied with the ruling APC government. The coalition around the ADC includes figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola. They opted for the ADC due to its legal status and perceived neutrality, allowing various factions to unite under one banner ahead of the next elections.
During his address, Bakare also touched on his political journey and the divine influence he believes played a role in the emergence of the current APC-led government. He credited the presidency of Bola Tinubu to divine providence, suggesting that attempts to undermine the party would be futile. Bakare himself was once a presidential aspirant under the APC and previously served as the running mate to Muhammadu Buhari during the 2011 elections under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), before the formation of the APC.
While acknowledging the growing influence of the ADC opposition, Bakare maintained that the APC remains his political home. He cautioned against internal divisions within the APC that could weaken the party and cause a repetition of historical intra-party conflicts in the South-West.