Spokespersons for Nigeria’s leading political parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—have engaged in a heated debate regarding the country’s democratic trajectory and the approaching 2027 elections. The exchange, which took place during an interview on Arise Television, highlighted deep fissures between the ruling party and the opposition.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, leveled serious accusations against the ruling party, alleging that the APC is systematically working to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. Abdullahi argued that the APC has actively destabilized opposition platforms, including the PDP, Labour Party, and the SDP, to ensure they pose no threat in the next election cycle. He contended that the narrative that “2027 is already won and lost” is a psychological tool employed by the APC to breed apathy among voters. According to Abdullahi, the ruling party seeks to eliminate choice because it cannot rely on a record of good governance to secure victory. He further criticized the character of governors defecting to the APC, describing them as vulnerable individuals lacking the conviction to remain in opposition.
In a sharp rebuttal, Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, dismissed these claims as baseless. He maintained that the APC is merely functioning as a political party should within a democracy: keeping its doors open to new members. Morka argued that the wave of defections into the APC is not a result of external pressure or manipulation, but rather a symptom of the internal failures and leadership crises plaguing the opposition parties themselves. He accused the opposition of obsessing over the APC instead of resolving their own structural issues, asserting that the ruling party has operated strictly within democratic bounds.
The discussion also touched on the internal stability of the PDP. Ini Ememobong, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, rejected the notion that his party is in disarray. Addressing recent rumors regarding the removal of the party’s acting chairman, Umar Damagum, Ememobong insisted that the party’s organs remain intact and that those claiming to have sacked the chairman lack the authority to do so. He attributed the visible tensions within the PDP to expelled members who have publicly declared support for the President’s 2027 ambitions, rather than a fundamental collapse of the party’s structure.
The clash underscores the volatile political atmosphere in Nigeria as parties begin positioning themselves for the next general election, with the opposition fearing existential threats and the ruling party insisting its dominance is a result of democratic merit.
