The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of systematically eroding Nigeria’s democratic foundations by weakening opposition parties and orchestrating a wave of opportunistic defections ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday, December 12, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the APC’s strategy was designed to create a sense of inevitability about retaining power, leaving Nigerians with “no credible alternative.”
“That’s exactly the mindset of inevitability that the ruling party would like to create, to make everyone think that no matter what we do, they are going to win anyway,” Abdullahi said.
He warned that the trend of state governors abandoning their parties to join the APC was part of a wider plan to cripple the opposition through political manipulation and legal pressure.
“APC today represents the greatest threat to Nigerian democracy,” he declared.
Abdullahi alleged that the ruling party had been “destabilising” opposition forces, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, and Social Democratic Party (SDP), to entrench one-party dominance.
“The destabilisation of PDP, the destabilisation of the Labour Party, the destabilisation of SDP is what has led politicians in these respective parties to find refuge in the African Democratic Congress,” he added.
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He also criticised the APC’s “double standards on democracy,” accusing it of meddling in the internal politics of neighbouring countries while eroding democratic institutions at home.
“They are quick to intervene in the Benin Republic to use the military to restore democracy, but back home in Nigeria, they are using legalism and the judiciary to undermine democracy,” he said.
The ADC spokesman emphasised that democracy thrives on genuine competition and choice.
“Democracy is about choice, about competition, about a level playing ground for all political parties, but they are actively undermining opposition political parties in Nigeria while posturing as a saviour of democracy in the region,” Abdullahi said.
Despite mounting pressure, Abdullahi said the ADC was expanding rapidly, establishing state offices across Nigeria through citizen-driven support.
“We have come on board as an opposition party propelled only by the enthusiasm of Nigerians who are committed to seeing democracy survive in the country,” he said.
The ADC’s criticism comes amid a string of defections by governors from opposition parties, including Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Enugu, to the APC, signaling a major political realignment ahead of the next general elections.