The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has rejected claims by opposition parties that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is attempting to make itself the only viable party in the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Dare insisted there is no covert or overt plan to limit the ballot to the APC. “There is no design, whether covertly or overtly, to have just the APC on the ballot. We have 21 parties registered to compete; every party has the right to field a candidate. The APC will not roll out the carpet and close shop because other parties are struggling,” he said.
Dare’s comments came a day after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the APC of instigating crises within opposition parties to avoid being challenged in 2027. Abdullahi claimed that President Tinubu and the APC were aiming to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, a move the ADC vowed to resist.
Responding, Dare dismissed claims that the APC was shrinking democratic space, pointing out that the ADC has freely approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with protests—a sign of political freedom. He also stressed that President Tinubu and the APC are not intimidated by opposition parties, noting the president’s focus remains on national governance.
The presidential aide described the ADC’s troubles as self-inflicted. “What you are seeing here is self-inflicted. You decide to come in through the backdoor, ignore petitions and court cases, and shout very loud. What has happened to the ADC in the last several months is a classic example of how not to run an opposition party,” Dare said.
He urged the ADC to take its grievances to court rather than blaming the ruling party or the president. “If you have a case, prove it in court,” he added.
