APC Fires Back: ‘Stop the Noise’ — Ruling Party Blasts ADC Over INEC Sack Demand

Nigeria’s political temperature is rising fast ahead of 2027, and the latest clash between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has only deepened the storm.

In a sharp and unapologetic response, the APC has dismissed the ADC’s dramatic call for the sack of INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, describing it as reckless, baseless, and a desperate smokescreen to hide internal chaos tearing the opposition apart.

The ruling party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, did not mince words. Standing before reporters in Abuja, he accused the ADC—particularly the faction led by former Senate President David Mark—of peddling what he called “malicious propaganda,” insisting there is absolutely no link between President Bola Tinubu and the crisis rocking the opposition party.

At the heart of the controversy is a bitter leadership battle within the ADC, one that has now spilled into the courts and drawn in Nigeria’s electoral umpire. While the ADC claims INEC has taken sides and undermined democracy, the APC insists the commission merely acted in line with a Court of Appeal ruling that ordered parties to maintain the status quo pending final judgment.

But the ADC is not backing down. Just a day earlier, the party had raised alarm bells, accusing INEC of partisanship and demanding the immediate resignation—or outright removal—of Amupitan and other commissioners. According to David Mark, the commission’s actions amount to a direct assault on democracy and could compromise upcoming elections, including key governorship polls.

He went even further, alleging a broader political agenda—claiming the Tinubu administration is quietly working to weaken opposition parties and steer Nigeria toward a one-party state ahead of 2027.

The APC, however, has brushed off these claims as fiction dressed as politics. Basiru emphasized that neither the President nor the ruling party has any constitutional power to interfere in INEC’s operations or deregister political parties, branding the allegations as a calculated attempt to shift blame.

In a stinging critique, the APC described the ADC faction as a “coalition of confusion,” arguing that true opposition leadership is earned through electoral performance—not press conferences and public outbursts.

Behind the political theatrics lies a deeper reality: Nigeria’s opposition space is undergoing a turbulent realignment. With internal disputes, defections, and legal battles intensifying, parties like the ADC are struggling to present a united front, even as influential figures continue to reposition themselves ahead of the next general election cycle.

Meanwhile, INEC finds itself caught in the crossfire, once again facing scrutiny over its neutrality—a recurring theme in Nigeria’s democratic journey. Public trust in the electoral body has remained a sensitive issue, with critics pointing to past controversies and operational challenges, while supporters argue that reforms are gradually strengthening the system.

As the political chessboard resets for 2027, one thing is clear: the battle lines are already drawn. And if this latest war of words is anything to go by, Nigeria’s road to the next election will be anything but quiet.