The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that if the African Democratic Congress and other parties do not appear on the ballot in the upcoming elections, Nigeria’s democracy will not be jeopardized.
The party announced this in a statement made on Tuesday by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, in response to allegations from an ADC group about purported threats to their participation in the elections.
The APC emphasized that, while political pluralism is important, the electoral process must adhere strictly to established rules and procedures.
“Democracy is governed by laws and institutional procedures—not by sentiment, entitlement, or alarmist propaganda,” the statement read.
The ruling party argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission acts within constitutional constraints and that all political parties must follow electoral norms.
“Compliance is not optional. Any political party that fails to meet stipulated requirements must bear the full consequences of its own actions,” it added.
Citing earlier experiences, the APC stated that it has previously suffered similar difficulties, such as being barred from running in Zamfara and Rivers states during the 2019 general elections due to legal and procedural issues.
According to the party, such precedents show that no political party is above the law and that electoral consequences are not limited to the ADC.
The APC further chastised the opposition party for attempting to transfer blame, blaming the crisis on internal ADC issues.
“It is disingenuous for a faction-ridden opposition party to externalize blame and attempt to cast the ruling party as a scapegoat for what are clearly self-inflicted wounds,” the statement said.
The party also argued that the ADC’s internal issues, including what it described as “disorder” and “procedural recklessness,” had undermined its credibility.
It added, “The electoral process is bigger than any single political party. Heaven will not fall if the ADC, or any other party, fails to appear on the ballot as a result of its own non-compliance.”
The APC advised political parties to resolve internal disputes and follow electoral guidelines rather than making public complaints.
It reaffirmed its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections and urged all players to respect democratic ideals and boost public trust in the electoral system.
