Abuja: Mr. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, has stated that there is no intention to have only the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the ballot in the 2027 elections. Dare, who previously served as the Minister of Youths and Sports, addressed this issue during an appearance on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’ program.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dare was responding to a protest by the African Democratic Party (ADC) over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to suspend recognition of the party’s leadership factions due to various court rulings. The suspension includes the faction led by Senator David Mark, following a Court of Appeal ruling in March and ongoing internal leadership disputes within the ADC.
The ADC has labeled this suspension as a ‘plot’ to exclude them from the 2027 elections, leading to their protest against the decision. Dare clarified that there are currently 20 political parties in Nigeria and none are being prevented from functioning. He emphasized that the APC will continue its operations despite other parties facing internal crises.
Dare criticized the ADC and other political opponents for relying on sentiments and emotions rather than focusing on building robust political structures to effectively challenge the ruling party. He dismissed suggestions that the APC-led federal government is constricting the political landscape, asserting that the government respects the freedom of opposition parties and all Nigerians. The fact that ADC leaders are able to protest freely was cited as evidence of this freedom.
He further stated that the federal government is committed to protecting the rights of individuals to conduct their activities, highlighting that journalists can freely critique the President without obstruction. Dare questioned whether it is the President’s responsibility to organize the opposition, underscoring that building a strong political party requires dedication. He noted the challenges faced in establishing the APC and argued that the ADC’s issues are self-inflicted. Instead of seeking shortcuts, he urged political leaders to invest the necessary effort and sacrifice to strengthen their parties.