The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly refuted accusations of conspiracy leveled against it and President Bola Tinubu by a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Senator David Mark.
In a forceful statement, the ruling party labeled claims suggesting President Tinubu’s involvement in the opposition party's leadership crisis as "baseless, misleading, and a desperate attempt to deflect from internal crises" within the ADC itself.
APC Dismisses 'Unfounded' Allegations
Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Friday, APC’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, unequivocally stated that the opposition's assertions — alleging President Tinubu is weakening political parties to engineer a one-party state before the 2027 general election — were "unfounded and lacked a constitutional basis."
Senator Basiru highlighted the legal framework:
By law, under the Constitution, the President possesses no power to deregister or interfere in the affairs of any political party.
The President also has no authority to meddle in the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
"Where does President Bola Tinubu feature in their claims, if not in fallacious and malicious propaganda?" Basiru queried, challenging the ADC faction's narrative.
The True Roots of ADC's Internal Strife
The APC insisted that the ADC's ongoing leadership crisis is not a result of external interference but rather stems from inherent internal disputes and a series of legal missteps by the faction itself.
The ruling party further defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that the electoral body has acted in strict compliance with a Court of Appeal ruling. Senator Basiru elaborated on the court's decision:
The appellate court dismissed the ADC faction’s appeal due to its incompetence.
The court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum (the state of affairs existing before the war/dispute) pending the determination of the substantive case.
"The decision being implemented by INEC was as a consequence of the dismissal of an appeal filed by Senator Mark and his faction," Basiru clarified, directly linking INEC's actions to judicial directives.
Disregard for Legal Processes and 'Coalition of Confusion'
The APC did not hold back in its criticism of the ADC faction, particularly for allegedly disregarding court orders. Senator Basiru expressed serious concerns over their insistence on proceeding with congresses and conventions despite ongoing litigation.
"Insisting on proceeding with party congresses despite an ongoing case… raises serious concerns about their respect for legal processes," he remarked.
Reckless Demands and Lack of Seriousness
Senator Basiru also described the ADC faction's call for the removal of Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman, along with other commissioners, as "reckless" and indicative of a profound lack of understanding regarding democratic institutions and leadership processes.
"Their call for the sack of INEC chairman and commissioners exposes a lack of seriousness and understanding of leadership processes," he asserted.
Challenging ADC's Stature as Opposition
Furthermore, the ruling party dismissed the ADC faction's claim to represent a formidable opposition, citing their poor electoral performance in recent contests. Basiru went as far as to label the group a "coalition of confusion."
"Leadership of the opposition is not declared through a press conference… it is earned through consistent electoral credibility and public trust," he emphasized, underscoring the importance of verifiable democratic credentials.
Look Inward, Not Outward
Reaffirming its stance, the APC urged the ADC faction to address its deep-seated internal challenges rather than resorting to public accusations and external finger-pointing. "Blaming other parties will not fix their internal crisis… No amount of external finger-pointing can resolve their lingering leadership issues," Basiru stated.
The party concluded with a stern warning: continued disregard for legal processes could lead to adverse consequences, and the outcome of ongoing litigation should not be attributed to the APC or President Tinubu. "They should look inward and stop finger-pointing," he advised.