The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has knocked the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should have gone further than derecognising its leadership by scrapping the party entirely.
Top party officials, including National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the explosive remarks on Friday at the APC National Secretariat, branding the ADC a political non-starter.
They described the opposition party as a “waste of the time and resources of Nigerians,” citing its poor electoral showing and lingering internal crisis.
Basiru argued that the ADC has failed to make any meaningful impact at the polls, stressing that its continued existence is unjustifiable.
“You look at the bye election in 17 constituencies, they won no seat. FCT Area Council elections, they won no chairmanship or councillorship seat. Same day, state constituency by-elections were conducted in Rivers and Kano states and they won no seats too.
“Even the quantum of votes they had in all the elections was nothing to write home about. Ordinarily, INEC should deregister them because they are just wasting the time and resources of Nigerians,” he stated.
The APC also fired back at claims by the David Mark-led faction that President Bola Tinubu is plotting to weaken opposition parties, dismissing the allegation as baseless.
According to the ruling party, the ADC’s troubles are self-inflicted, rooted in what it described as a chaotic and flawed leadership takeover that collapsed in court.
“Anytime they lose a case, democracy is in danger but any time our party loses in court, they will say democracy is alive. It is very laughable,” Basiru said.
Speaking further on the internal wrangling, he added: “You went and stole a rickety vehicle and if the vehicle has a brain box problem, you cannot blame us.”
The APC maintained that INEC’s decision is simply an implementation of a Court of Appeal directive ordering all parties to maintain the status quo, insisting there is no political interference.
“If Senator Mark and his factional ADC leadership believe INEC’s interpretation is flawed, they ought to know the proper channel to seek redress – the courts.
“The public defiant posture of Senator Mark and his factional ADC leadership against orders of the Court of Appeal and its implementation by INEC not only amounts to self-help but recklessness”, said Basiru.
The ruling party also ridiculed calls by the ADC for the removal of INEC’s leadership, questioning the logic behind such demands.
“I think they are not ready for the elections because even if you sack the entire management of INEC as they are demanding, who will appoint another management? So, if the president appoints another management team in line with the Constitution, will they ask that those ones be sacked again?” he queried.
In a final jab, the APC urged the ADC to fix its internal mess instead of pointing fingers, warning that any move to proceed with congresses in defiance of court orders could backfire badly.
The party stressed that the ADC must bear full responsibility for the consequences of its actions.
