The All Progressives Congress has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the African Democratic Congress, alleging the party has squandered Nigerians' time and resources. APC national secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, made the statement in Abuja on Friday, citing the ADC's poor electoral performance, including failing to win any seat in 17 bye-elections and no chairmanship or councillorship positions in the FCT Area Council polls. He argued that the party's internal conflicts justify deregistration, stating, "Ordinarily, INEC should deregister them because they are just wasting the time and resources of Nigerians." INEC had removed David Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as secretary following a Court of Appeal ruling, a move the ADC rejected. The party accused INEC of being under APC influence and demanded the resignation of INEC chairman Joash Amupitan. Bashiru defended the commission's actions, insisting that President Bola Tinubu and INEC were not responsible for the ADC's legal setbacks. He dismissed the call for Amupitan's resignation, saying the ADC should focus on resolving its internal issues instead of blaming external forces. Public reaction has included criticism of Tinubu, with some Nigerians alleging a coordinated effort to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ajibola Bashiru's demand for ADC's deregistration exposes a double standard in how electoral legitimacy is framed by the ruling party. While INEC's removal of ADC leaders followed a court judgment, the APC's dismissal of ADC's grievances as mere excuses rings hollow given widespread public suspicion of partisan influence. If the electoral body's actions are above board, then the onus is on APC not to mock but to prove it—especially with 2027 looming. For Nigerians, this episode reinforces the perception that party stability is selectively enforced, depending on who holds power.
