As different opposition parties come together to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC, one important issue they must consider is how voters see and understand political party names. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) might seem like a good option because it already has supporters and structure, but its name could cause problems for voters.

In tight elections where every vote counts, it’s important that voters clearly understand who they’re voting for. APC and ADC look very similar when written down, and that’s not just a small issue—it could be a serious problem. Many voters have to decide quickly at the polling booth, and not all of them are highly educated. Seeing two similar acronyms might lead them to choose the wrong one by mistake.

If the opposition decides to run under ADC, they risk losing votes just because people mix up the names. Instead of providing a strong and clear option to APC, the ADC name could confuse voters and end up helping APC stay in power.

Any serious challenge to an incumbent must avoid errors that could cost votes. Picking a party name that sounds like the ruling party’s is one such mistake. The opposition needs to choose a party with a completely different name—one that stands out clearly in the minds of voters.

A strong political movement should have a name that shows it is different and united. Using a name that can be mixed up with APC does not send that message. The opposition should look for another party that is legally registered and has strong grassroots support, but without a name that can cause confusion.

If the goal is to remove Tinubu from office, the opposition must act with clear plans, strategy, and a message that reaches everyone. The names APC and ADC are too similar. To win the next election, they must stand under a party name that voters can quickly recognize and won’t mix up.