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Debunks Plot to Have One Party on Ballot
- Safiu Kehinde
The Presidency has reacted to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, debunking alleged plot of influencing INEC’s decision in order to have one party on the ballot in 2027.
NPO Reported that the David Mark-led ADC had on Wednesday stormed INEC’s office over the commission’s decision to derecognise the political party leadership factions owing to various court rulings.
INEC suspended recognition of the ADC leadership factions due to a March Court of Appeal ruling and ongoing internal leadership disputes.
It would further proceed to withdraw the name of Mark and other key members of the ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC) from its portal.
The ADC, in reaction, accused INEC of compromise, alleging that the commission’s decision was influenced by the ruling All Progressives Congress in a bid to block them from the 2027 elections and see President Bola Tinubu emerge as the sole candidate.
Reacting on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, refuted the ADC’s allegations.
Dare said that there is no design to have only APC on the ballot in 2027.
He however ruled out the APC’s rejection of new defectors into the party.
“There are 20 political parties in Nigeria today. No one is stopping them from functioning.
“All Progressives Congress(APC) will not close shop because other political parties are enmeshed in one crisis or the other,” he said.
The former Minister of Youths and Sports accused the ADC and other political rivals of seeking to play on sentiments and emotions instead of building strong political outfits to challenge the ruling party.
He rejected suggestions that the APC-led federal government was closing down the political space.
Dare said that the APC-led government recognises freedom of the opposition and all Nigerians, adding that the ADC leaders protesting freely was a testimony to that freedom.
“The federal government will always protect the rights of the people to carry out their activities.
“Journalists work freely and attack the President on daily basis with no one stopping them from doing their job.
“Is it supposed to be the duty of the President to help organise the opposition?
“Building a strong political party is a tedious process. We all know how difficult it was to build the APC.
“APC is not the architect of ADC’s crisis. It is self-inflicted. Instead of building their party into a strong force, the leaders are looking for short cuts.
“Building a strong political force requires sacrifice and hard work. If you cannot do that, don’t blame someone else for the resultant failure,” he said.