Dare Babalola
The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has rejected claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that Nigeria’s democracy is facing an existential threat.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, on Thursday, the party described Atiku’s claim as alarmist and politically motivated.
APC accused Atiku and leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of attempting to regain political relevance through what it described as doomsday rhetoric, following their failure to secure electoral victory.
Oladejo said it found Atiku’s comments ironic, noting that they were coming from political actors it accused of repeatedly testing and straining democratic institutions in the past.
According to him, Nigeria’s democratic framework has continued to function since the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023.
“Elections have been conducted, courts have adjudicated disputes, the legislature has exercised oversight, and citizens continue to enjoy constitutionally guaranteed freedoms,” he said.
He added that opposition parties have continued to speak, protest, and pursue litigation freely, which it argued contradicts claims of democratic collapse.
The APC further criticised the ADC, describing it as ideologically unstable and internally divided.
He alleged that the opposition coalition was driven largely by personal ambition rather than shared principles, warning that such a structure was unsustainable.
According to him, what is being portrayed as a defence of democracy is, in reality, a reaction to diminishing political relevance.
He argued that losing elections and having ambitions frustrated are inherent aspects of democratic practice and do not amount to democratic failure.
He also defended the Tinubu administration, stating that ongoing reforms were anchored on constitutional order, the rule of law, and democratic accountability.
While acknowledging that the reforms were demanding, he insisted they were necessary and lawful.
“The democracy of Nigeria remains resilient and firmly anchored,” he said.
He urged Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures to accept political realities and respect the choices made by Nigerians at the polls.
