The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that democracy in Nigeria remains strong and functional, while dismissing allegations that the ruling party is responsible for the internal crises affecting opposition parties.
Speaking during a live media chat in Abuja, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru said the party remains focused on governance and national development, while opposition parties continue to struggle with internal leadership disputes.
The APC’s response comes amid ongoing crises in major opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both of which are currently divided into rival factions and involved in multiple court cases over leadership and control structures.
Recent political tensions intensified after allegations from opposition figures including David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who accused the Tinubu administration of undermining opposition parties to weaken democratic competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to these claims, Basiru argued that Nigeria’s democracy is defined by freedom of association and expression, noting that multiple registered political parties exist and that internal party disputes should not be blamed on the APC.
He also referenced ongoing court rulings involving opposition party factions, including cases linked to the ADC leadership dispute involving figures such as Rauf Aregbesola, stating that parties must respect judicial decisions rather than proceed in violation of court orders.
Basiru further argued that political parties experiencing internal conflicts should focus on resolving their issues within legal and democratic frameworks instead of attributing their challenges to external interference.
On governance, the APC leadership defended President Tinubu’s economic reforms, claiming they have improved revenue generation, strengthened macroeconomic indicators, and increased allocations to states and local governments.
They added that while the reforms have caused short-term hardship, they are beginning to produce positive results, including improved infrastructure funding and growth in key economic indicators.
The party also maintained that security challenges are being addressed through both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, while calling for greater national cooperation and avoiding politicisation of insecurity.
