By Chesa Chesa
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by David Mark, describing them as “baseless,” “mischievous,” and a deliberate attempt to mislead Nigerians and the international community.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, APC National Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, said the claims made by the ADC faction at a media briefing a day earlier were rooted in “puerile propaganda” and a misunderstanding of legal processes.
The APC was reacting to a series of allegations by the Mark-led faction, including claims that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was working to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had acted unlawfully by withdrawing recognition of their leadership.
Basiru rejected assertions that the President was undermining opposition parties, noting that Nigeria currently has 19 registered political parties capable of contesting elections.
He argued that the crisis within the ADC was self-inflicted, stemming from what he described as an “untidy” leadership takeover that triggered internal disputes and litigation.
According to him, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal filed by the Mark faction and ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending the determination of the substantive case at the Federal High Court.
“The predicament of Senator David Mark and his group has nothing to do with President Tinubu,” Basiru said, adding that attempts to link the presidency to the crisis were “fallacious and malicious.”
The APC also defended INEC’s actions, insisting the electoral body merely complied with the court’s directive.
Basiru maintained that if the ADC faction was dissatisfied with INEC’s interpretation of the ruling, the appropriate course of action was to seek legal redress, rather than resort to public criticism.
He described calls for the removal of the INEC Chairman and commissioners as “preposterous” and indicative of a lack of understanding of constitutional procedures.
The ruling party further criticised the ADC faction for insisting on proceeding with party congresses and conventions despite ongoing litigation. Basiru warned that such actions could amount to illegality, stressing that court orders remain binding until set aside by a competent authority.
The APC advised the ADC to focus on resolving its internal leadership disputes rather than blaming external actors.
Drawing a parallel with past political developments, Basiru recalled how the APC lost electoral victories in Zamfara State due to internal crises, noting that the outcome was widely accepted as a consequence of the rule of law.
“No amount of finger-pointing can resolve their lingering leadership issues,” he said while adding that leadership of the opposition cannot be claimed through rhetoric but must be earned through electoral performance and public trust.
