The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat, calling the claims alarmist and ironic.
Abubakar, through his spokesman Paul Ibe, accused the Tinubu administration of undermining opposition parties, shrinking democratic space, and enforcing policies that erode democratic values, warning of a potential one-party state.
In response, Lagos State APC spokesman Seye Oladejo said Abubakar and his African Democratic Congress (ADC) party are “afraid of their own shadows.” He emphasized that democratic institutions have continued to function normally since May 29, 2023. “Elections have been conducted, courts have adjudicated disputes, the legislature has exercised oversight, and citizens continue to enjoy constitutionally guaranteed freedoms,” Oladejo stated.
Oladejo also described the ADC as a fragile coalition driven by personal ambition rather than ideology, warning that internal contradictions and “inherent deceit” make the party vulnerable. He said the opposition’s claims reflect desperation rather than genuine concern for democracy.
“No political house built on sand can withstand the inevitable internal whirlwind that follows unchecked ambition without ideology,” Oladejo added. He stressed that democracy does not collapse because personal ambitions are frustrated, asserting that the ADC’s warnings are “the last convulsion of a political arrangement held together by fear, impatience, and fading relevance.”
The APC spokesman affirmed the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic framework under President Bola Tinubu, noting that ongoing reforms are constitutionally grounded and rooted in the rule of law. He concluded by urging the opposition to confront reality: “Nigeria is not afraid. Democracy is not collapsing. It is only the opposition that is frightened by its own shadow.”
Leave a comment