Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, has dismissed claims that the federal government intends to restrict the 2027 general elections to only the All Progressives Congress (APC). He made the remark during an appearance on Channels TV's "Politics Today" programme, responding to a protest by the African Democratic Party (ADC) over the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) suspension of its leadership factions. The suspension follows a March Court of Appeal ruling and ongoing internal disputes, including within the faction led by Sen. David Mark. The ADC has described the move as a plot to exclude it from the 2027 ballot.
Dare stated that 20 political parties remain active in Nigeria and none are being prevented from operating. He insisted the APC would not shut down because other parties face internal crises. He accused the ADC and similar parties of relying on emotional appeals rather than building strong, functional structures. He pointed to the ADC's ability to protest freely as proof that political space remains open. Journalists, he added, continue to criticise the President without interference. "Is it supposed to be the duty of the President to help organise the opposition?" he asked. He attributed the ADC's struggles to self-inflicted leadership problems, not government interference.
Sunday Dare's insistence that no plot exists to sideline opposition parties rings hollow when viewed alongside INEC's timing and consistency — or lack thereof — in handling party crises. While he correctly notes that parties like the ADC are free to protest, the selective enforcement of court rulings, particularly after a March Court of Appeal decision, creates a pattern that benefits the ruling party by default. The fact that Sen. David Mark's faction is caught in the crosshairs while other parties with similar internal disputes face less scrutiny raises uncomfortable questions about even-handedness.
The political context here is not just about party survival but about the shrinking runway for credible opposition ahead of 2027. Dare's dismissal of ADC's concerns as self-made ignores how institutional actions — even when legally grounded — can still serve to entrench power when applied unevenly. The government does not need to explicitly ban parties when administrative and judicial delays can achieve the same outcome over time. The freedom to protest, while real, does not compensate for the lack of equitable access to electoral legitimacy.
Ordinary Nigerians, especially voters seeking alternatives to the APC, are the real losers. Supporters of parties like ADC, with historical presence but weakened by infighting and regulatory actions, face a future where their votes may not translate into representation. This erodes trust in the electoral process, particularly among younger voters who expect functional institutions, not just symbolic freedoms.
This is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend where legal technicalities and institutional inertia quietly reshape the political landscape in favour of incumbents.
