2027: ‘APC abducting opposition governors’ — ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to impose a one-party dictatorship on Nigeria by allegedly coercing opposition governors into supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council described the inclusion of governors from other political parties in Tinubu’s expanded campaign council as an attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Wednesday, the council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the APC of using state power to pressure opposition figures into its political structure.

“What we are witnessing is not politics but political abduction,” Ologbondiyan declared.

“You cannot claim to be a democrat while using state power to force opposition governors into your party and then drafting them into your campaign council. This is political banditry.”

He alleged that some opposition governors were included in the APC campaign council despite refusing to defect from their political parties.

Ologbondiyan also accused the ruling party of using national institutions, security agencies and the judiciary to weaken opposition forces and consolidate political power.

“Never in our democratic journey have we witnessed this level of intolerance and desperation. The APC government has weaponised poverty, hunger and insecurity to subjugate Nigerians and cripple the opposition,” he said.

The ADC spokesman further accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising political survival over the economic hardship and insecurity confronting Nigerians.

“These particular sets of leaders don’t care about the current conditions of the people but how best to remain in power at a time when average Nigerians find it difficult to eat and be secure,” he stated.

He urged Nigerians, civil society organisations and the international community to resist what he described as attempts to undermine multiparty democracy.

Ologbondiyan also expressed support for the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, arguing that they possessed the experience to address Nigeria’s challenges.

The allegations followed Tuesday’s release of the APC’s expanded Presidential Campaign Council list, which included Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Wike was named campaign coordinator for Rivers State and the FCT, while Adeleke and Soludo were listed as coordinators for Osun and Anambra states, respectively.

The ADC’s allegations of coercion have not been independently established.