Lauretta Onochie explains how ADC wants leaders to work together in anticipated New Nigeria
*With touch on collegiate, what it means in world’s most important black nation
By KEMI KASUMU
“This is a breath of fresh air for Nigerians, at a time Pres. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmuted into an emperor, arrogating all powers to himself, breaking laws with impunity and turning Nigeria into his personal criminal empire.”
A United Kingdom–trained political figure and leading member of the African Democratic Congress, Lauretta Onochie, has launched a personal website, www.laurestar.com, aimed at promoting civic education and engaging Nigerians on issues of democratic leadership.
Onochie, a former chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission and one-time aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, is using the platform to share commentary on governance and political developments. On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, she published a piece titled “What is happening in ADC?”, raising questions about the state of affairs within her party while offering what she described as an educational perspective on internal democracy.
Addressing the question in a simplified and accessible manner, the African Democratic Congress chieftain, Lauretta Onochie, said the party is seeking to redefine how leadership operates in Nigeria. She explained that her presentation was deliberately structured to be easily understood, noting that she had “broken it down in such a way that primary school pupils can understand.”
According to Onochie, the party is advocating a more collaborative model of governance. “Instead of one person winning and controlling everything, ADC wants a team of leaders working together—like classmates doing a group project,” she said, emphasizing a shift away from winner-takes-all politics toward a collective leadership approach.
Continuing her explanation with the aid of diagrams, Lauretta Onochie outlined what she described as the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s alternative leadership model using simple analogies.
She asked readers to imagine a classroom scenario in which leadership is chosen, contrasting what she called the “old way,” where one individual makes all decisions, with the party’s proposed system in which a leader works alongside other top members as a team.
Onochie said the model is built on key principles including shared leadership, where decision-making is collective rather than centralized, and post-election unity, where those who do not emerge as winners remain part of the leadership structure.
She added that the party emphasises strict adherence to internal rules applicable to all members, including leaders, as well as a focus on governance outcomes aimed at improving citizens’ welfare.
Summarising the approach, she said the party envisions leadership as a collaborative effort designed to promote unity and better serve Nigerians.
Onochie also used the platform to criticise the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of concentrating power and disregarding established rules.
In one simple sentence, she said, “ADC wants leaders to work like a team, not like one boss, so they can stay united and help Nigerians better.
“This is a breath of fresh air for Nigerians, at a time Pres. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmuted into an emperor, arrogating all powers to himself, breaking laws with impunity and turning Nigeria into his personal criminal empire.”
She argued that the ADC’s collegiate system is intended to foster inclusive political leadership that cuts across ethnic, religious and partisan lines.
“ADC’s Collegiate system, is poised to establish collective political leadership that will serve all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion and political party affiliations,” she said.
