APC will not be the only party on the 2027 ballot, as presidential aide Sunday Dare dismisses claims of political exclusion and defends INEC’s handling of ADC leadership dispute.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, has said there is no plan to have only the All Progressives Congress on the ballot in the 2027 general elections.
Dare, a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, made the clarification while appearing on Politics Today on Channels Television.
He was reacting to a protest by the African Democratic Congress over the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to derecognise the party’s leadership factions following court rulings.
INEC had suspended recognition of ADC leadership factions, including the one led by David Mark, citing a March Court of Appeal ruling and ongoing internal disputes.
The ADC described the move as a plot to block the party from participating in the 2027 elections and staged a protest.
“There are 20 political parties in Nigeria today. No one is stopping them from functioning. APC will not close shop because other political parties are enmeshed in one crisis or the other,” Dare said.
He accused the ADC and other political rivals of attempting to play on sentiments rather than building strong political platforms to challenge the ruling party.
Dare rejected suggestions that the APC-led Federal Government was shrinking the political space, insisting that opposition parties enjoy freedom to operate.
He added that the ability of ADC leaders to protest freely was evidence that democratic rights were being protected.
“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.
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