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Tag: opposition parties

  • SDP’s Adebayo Accuses Tinubu of Interfering in Opposition Politics Ahead of 2027

    SDP’s Adebayo Accuses Tinubu of Interfering in Opposition Politics Ahead of 2027

    The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Adewole Adebayo, has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to manipulate opposition political parties and weaken democratic competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, Adebayo alleged that the president was seeking to exert influence not only within opposition parties but also over institutions expected to remain independent in a democracy.

    “You can’t be candidate general of the opposition. You have to stick to your own party,” Adebayo said.

    “The president wants to belong to every political party, also act as the chairman of INEC, and the part-time chief justice of Nigeria.”

    The former SDP presidential flagbearer made the remarks while responding to reports of internal divisions within the party and claims by one Akinbola Atanda that he was also a presidential candidate of the SDP.

    Dismissing the claim, Adebayo said the party neither recognised Atanda as a member nor as an aspirant.

    “We don’t know him in the SDP. We don’t know him,” he stated.

    “Well, I could say I’m the Pope, but I’m not. You see, the Catholics know who’s the Pope.”

    Adebayo further alleged that the administration of President Tinubu was deliberately creating confusion within opposition parties as part of a broader political strategy ahead of the next election cycle.

    “I know President Tinubu is the author of all of this drama,” he said.

    According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress was uncomfortable with genuine political competition and was instead attempting to orchestrate weak opposition structures.

    “The whole idea is not to have competition,” Adebayo said.

    “And they want to master that by having pseudo candidates in other political parties and have a coronation.”

    He also criticised the conduct of primaries within the APC, alleging that the party merely staged democratic processes rather than conducting genuine internal contests.

    The comments add to growing political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition figures increasingly accusing the ruling party of attempting to dominate Nigeria’s political space. Neither the presidency nor the APC had officially responded to Adebayo’s allegations as of the time of filing this report.

  • ADC Warns Aspirants’ Supporters Against Divisive Rhetoric Ahead of June Primaries

    ADC Warns Aspirants’ Supporters Against Divisive Rhetoric Ahead of June Primaries

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned supporters of its presidential aspirants to desist from promoting division and claims of exceptionality ahead of the party’s June primaries.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, issued the warning on Saturday while speaking during a live audio conversation on X (formerly Twitter) on the state of the nation and the polity in Abuja.

    Abdullahi said divisive rhetoric among aspirants’ supporters could weaken the party and work to the advantage of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that unity was critical to ADC’s chances in the next general elections.

    He also described the proposal to hold the 2027 general elections in 2026 as a “double-edged sword” for the party, noting that while an early election could make it difficult for ADC to heal internal wounds, it could also benefit the party as Nigerians were increasingly dissatisfied with the current administration.

    According to him, the party leadership is actively engaging key political figures to strengthen internal cohesion ahead of the elections.

    “I spent time talking to Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai on uniting the party and improving Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

    “Our leaders are aware of the task ahead, and every one of them is committed to ensuring that we win this election together resolutely.”

    Speaking further on the timing of the elections, Abdullahi said, “Whether elections hold this year or next year, it will work for and against us as opposition.”

    He warned supporters against adopting an “all-or-nothing” posture around any aspirant, saying such attitudes undermine the party’s broader goal of winning elections.

    “Saying it is either this candidate or nothing is not helpful; winning the election matters, and divisiveness cannot deliver victory for the party,” he said.

    Abdullahi added that all ADC aspirants were qualified, cautioning against the vilification of individuals or regions, which he said complicates efforts to build nationwide support.

    “We will ignore people creating exceptionality and focus on our work because we want to win these elections credibly, peacefully and inclusively nationwide together as one,” he stated.

    He specifically criticised slogans suggesting “Peter Obi or nothing,” arguing that such rhetoric limits outreach and hardens positions needed for electoral success across regions.

    The ADC spokesman also said the party was taking the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections seriously, following its poor showing in the Anambra off-season governorship election, and hoped to make a strong statement in the FCT polls.

    In addition, Abdullahi expressed concern over reports that some state governments were allegedly compelling civil servants with National Identification Numbers (NIN) to register as members of their political parties.