By Obinna Uballa
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Nigeria’s democracy will not collapse if the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), or any other political party fails to appear on the ballot in forthcoming elections due to non-compliance with electoral rules.
The ruling party made the assertion in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, while reacting to complaints by a faction of the ADC over alleged threats to its participation in the electoral process.
Oladejo said while political pluralism is important in a democratic system, the conduct of elections must strictly adhere to established laws and institutional procedures.
“Democracy is governed by laws and institutional procedures – not by sentiment, entitlement, or alarmist propaganda,” the statement said.
The APC stressed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) operates within constitutional limits and that all political parties are required to comply with the commission’s regulations and guidelines.
“Compliance is not optional. Any political party that fails to meet stipulated requirements must bear the full consequences of its own actions,” the party stated.
The Lagos APC also pointed to past electoral precedents, noting that the ruling party itself had faced similar setbacks in the past.
It recalled that the APC was excluded from participating in elections in Zamfara and Rivers states during the 2019 general elections following legal and procedural disputes.
According to the party, those experiences demonstrate that no political party is above the law and that electoral consequences are not peculiar to the ADC or any other opposition party.
The ruling party further accused the opposition of attempting to shift blame for its internal challenges.
“It is disingenuous for a faction-ridden opposition party to externalise blame and attempt to cast the ruling party as a scapegoat for what are clearly self-inflicted wounds,” the statement said.
The APC argued that internal crises within the ADC, including what it described as organisational disorder and procedural recklessness, had weakened the party’s credibility.
“The electoral process is bigger than any single political party. Heaven will not fall if the ADC, the PDP, or any other party fails to appear on the ballot as a result of its own non-compliance,” it added.
The party urged political parties to resolve their internal disputes and comply with electoral regulations instead of resorting to public accusations.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to credible elections and called on all stakeholders to respect democratic principles and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
