APC Denies Allegations of Plot to Dominate 2027 Election Ballot
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, has firmly dismissed claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress is orchestrating a scheme to dominate the ballot in the upcoming 2027 general elections. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, Dare categorically stated that there is no plan, whether covert or overt, to restrict electoral participation solely to the APC.
Dare Rejects Claims of One-Party State Agenda
In his remarks, Dare emphasized, "There is no design whether covertly or overtly to have just the APC on the ballot. We have 21 parties registered to compete on the ballot; every party has the right to field a candidate. Now the APC will not roll out the carpet and close shop because other parties are struggling." His comments were a direct response to accusations leveled by Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress, who alleged that the APC is instigating internal crises within opposition parties to weaken competition ahead of the 2027 polls.
Abdullahi had contended that the ruling party is attempting to transform Nigeria into a one-party state and vowed that the ADC would resist such efforts vigorously. However, Dare countered these assertions by highlighting the openness of Nigeria's democratic landscape. He pointed to the ability of opposition parties to freely engage with the Independent National Electoral Commission, including organizing protests, as clear evidence of ongoing political freedom and pluralism.
APC Insists on Governance Focus Amid Opposition Struggles
The presidential aide further asserted that neither the APC nor President Tinubu feels threatened by opposition activities. He stressed that governance remains the administration's top priority, with party affairs being managed separately to ensure effective leadership. Dare described the internal challenges plaguing the ADC as self-inflicted, criticizing the party's management of its own affairs.
He elaborated, "What you are seeing here is self-inflicted. You decide to come in through the backdoor, you decide to ignore the fact that there are petitions and court cases. You decide to think that because you are in the opposition and you can shout very loud… what has happened to the ADC in the last several months is a locus classicus of how not to run an opposition, how not to hijack a political party, and how not to run a party."
Dare advised the opposition party to pursue its grievances through established legal channels rather than attributing its difficulties to the ruling party. He underscored that the APC remains committed to a competitive electoral process, with all registered parties having equal opportunities to participate. This stance, he argued, reflects the robustness of Nigeria's democracy, where multiple parties can operate without undue interference from the incumbent administration.
