The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that President Bola Tinubu is engineering a one-party state ahead of the 2027 elections. Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, APC National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, and Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, urged the ADC to address its internal leadership crisis instead of blaming the ruling party. The ADC had accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of unlawfully derecognising its David Mark-led faction, citing a Court of Appeal order to maintain the status quo. Basiru called the claims baseless, noting that Nigeria still has 22 registered political parties and that Tinubu has no authority to deregister any party. He attributed the ADC's troubles to internal disunity and legal missteps, particularly its decision to approach the Court of Appeal prematurely during ongoing litigation. INEC, he said, is acting in line with court directives and should not be accused of partisanship. Basiru highlighted that the Court of Appeal dismissed David Mark's appeal and awarded costs against him, questioning where Tinubu fits into the equation. He warned against holding party congresses in defiance of ongoing court cases, citing APC's own compliance with court orders in Ondo State. The ADC's poor electoral performance, including failing to win any seat in recent FCT council elections and by-elections in Rivers and Kano, was cited as undermining its claim to opposition leadership.
Sen. Ajibola Basiru's detailed rebuttal does little to ease public suspicion about INEC's neutrality, especially when rulings consistently align with the ruling party's interests. The ADC's crisis stems from internal flaws, but the pattern of opposition parties facing legal and regulatory headwinds raises legitimate concerns about competitive fairness. For Nigerian voters, this means fewer viable alternatives and a shrinking space for dissent—regardless of which side initiated the conflict. A party that cannot win elections should not expect sympathy, but neither should dominance be mistaken for legitimacy.
