The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it will not back down from participating in the 2027 general elections, even if opposition parties carry out threats to boycott the polls over alleged bias by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, stated this on Sunday while featuring on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
Papers News reports that Morka was reacting to growing calls by some opposition figures urging political parties to withdraw from the 2027 elections in protest against what they described as an uneven playing field.
According to Morka, several political parties in Nigeria remain active and capable of fielding candidates for the next presidential election.
“The ADC is not the only political party in Nigeria. The PDP is still a political party. The Labour Party is there. And there are about 16, 17 or 18 other parties that are still registered in this country that I bet will field presidential candidates in the next election,” he said.
He also reacted to reports suggesting that members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties were considering boycotting the election.
“Just today, I was reading a report by Sunday Punch suggesting that some members of the ADC and maybe some other parties are considering boycotting the next election. I wish them luck,” he said.
Morka dismissed the possibility of the ruling party stepping aside if opposition parties withdraw from the election.
He maintained that the APC would fully exercise its constitutional right to participate in the democratic process.
“As I said earlier, and I will repeat. I can’t give an assurance that the APC will somehow roll back its preparation and efforts by not fielding a candidate,” he said.
“We will participate as vigorously as we are required in a democracy. Our constitution gives us the liberty to participate, just like it gives ADC, PDP, Labour Party and anybody else the opportunity to participate.”
The APC spokesman argued that the real issue was not about the ruling party but about whether opposition parties were prepared to compete effectively.
“I think this question should be turned over to the ADC, Labour Party and to the PDP to ask what exactly they are doing or willing to do to bring themselves into viable capacity to compete in the next general election,” he said.
Morka also criticised opposition parties, particularly the ADC, accusing them of attempting to emotionally manipulate the political process.
“So far, the ADC are being emotionally manipulated. They’re being very infantile and need to stop and focus on solving their problem,” he said.
He added that the Court of Appeal had already issued a ruling which INEC complied with, suggesting that the opposition should take responsibility for its internal issues.
“Now, if I were to be a member of the ADC, which I’m not, I would tell the leadership to take some responsibility. You are all citizens who have governed this country before,” he added.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have intensified discussions around a possible boycott of the 2027 general elections, citing alleged bias by INEC and fears of a predetermined outcome.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Taminu Turaki, alongside Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), has openly canvassed the option.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, has also indicated that the party’s leadership was weighing the possibility.
In a separate interview, the spokesman of the Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, said a boycott might become necessary if the electoral process appears compromised.
The debate has also been intensified by the INEC decision to derecognise the National Working Committee of the ADC led by Senator David Mark.
