Shehu Sani Compares Nigerian Political Parties to Private Entities and Warns Opposition Against Adopting Existing Platforms

Former Senator Shehu Sani warns that Nigerian political parties are controlled like private companies, leading to unavoidable crises for new members.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 6:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEADERSHIP

The Concept of "Ownership" in Political Platforms

Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has sparked a conversation regarding the structural integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions by comparing political parties to private companies. In a detailed post on his social media page, Sani asserted that these organizations are frequently owned and manipulated by a small group of powerful individuals. He warned that politicians who attempt to "jump in" and take over established parties without having been part of their founding often face immediate internal crises. This "private ownership" model, he argues, creates a hostile environment for newcomers, regardless of their public popularity or political stature.

Lessons from the 2015 Merger and "Virgin" Parties

Contrasting the current political landscape with the lead-up to the 2015 general elections, Sani noted that opposition figures at the time were "wiser." Instead of adopting existing structures like Muhammadu Buhari’s CPC or Bola Tinubu’s ACN, they collaborated to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a new entity. Sani described this as a "virgin party" where no single leader could claim the role of "first husband," allowing for a more equitable power-sharing arrangement. He suggested that the lack of such a neutral platform today is a primary reason why modern opposition movements struggle to maintain internal stability.

Complications for Modern Opposition Leaders

Sani highlighted the experiences of Peter Obi with the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso with the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as modern examples of the dangers of adopting pre-existing platforms. He recalled an ignored 2025 suggestion by Dr. Umar Ardo, who had advised opposition leaders to register a completely new party to avoid "mischief" and "court cases." By stepping into established structures, Sani believes these leaders inherited administrative baggage and internal rivalries that have compromised their ability to present a unified front against the ruling party.