The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has responded to claims by a faction of the African Democratic Congress suggesting that directives from the Independent National Electoral Commission could prevent it from fielding candidates in upcoming elections.
The Lagos APC stated that while democracy thrives on political plurality, it must operate within clearly defined laws and institutional procedures rather than emotions, entitlement, or what it described as alarmist narratives.
According to the party, INEC, as the constitutionally recognised electoral body, carries out its responsibilities strictly within the framework of the law to protect the credibility and integrity of the electoral process. The APC stressed that compliance with electoral guidelines is mandatory and that any political party that fails to meet the requirements must accept the consequences.
The party pointed out that the ADC’s situation is not unprecedented, recalling how the APC itself faced similar setbacks in the past. It cited the 2019 general elections in Zamfara State, where the APC was barred from fielding candidates due to invalid primaries, leading to the nullification of its victories by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The APC also referenced a similar development in Rivers State, where the party was excluded from elections due to internal disputes and flawed nomination processes.
According to the Lagos APC, these examples demonstrate that no political party is above the law and that compliance cannot be replaced by public complaints or political pressure.
The party criticised the ADC for blaming external forces instead of addressing what it described as internal challenges. It argued that the ADC’s current issues were self-inflicted, citing internal divisions and procedural lapses that have weakened the party’s credibility and exposed shortcomings in its leadership.
The APC also expressed concern over what it described as a lack of organisation and discipline within the ADC, questioning the ability of its leaders to effectively manage party affairs or participate meaningfully in the democratic process.
It maintained that the APC would not accept responsibility for what it described as the ADC’s miscalculations and urged the opposition party to take responsibility for its actions.
The Lagos APC further emphasised that the electoral process is bigger than any single political party, noting that failure to appear on the ballot due to non-compliance does not threaten democracy.
The party advised political parties to focus on resolving internal disputes and complying with electoral regulations rather than engaging in public complaints.
Reaffirming its position, the APC reiterated its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections, urging all stakeholders to act responsibly in ways that strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
