The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has refuted allegations that the ruling party is interfering with opposition political groups. He asserted that certain political figures are operating outside legal boundaries and are responsible for their own internal party challenges.
During a national media briefing on Wednesday, which focused on governance, party direction, and Nigeria's political future, Mr. Basiru specifically addressed internal disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He characterized the actions of certain ADC factions as illegal and questioned the validity of a recent convention held by one of these groups.
He stated that despite clear court rulings, "some individuals gathered themselves in a beer parlour and proclaimed they were organizing a convention," which he considers a violation of existing court directives.
Mr. Basiru's comments followed ongoing disagreements within the ADC over its leadership.
He pointed to a Court of Appeal judgment mandating parties involved in the dispute to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of their case. He accused one faction of failing to adhere to this directive.
According to Mr. Basiru, the principle of status quo antebellum, as upheld by previous Supreme Court rulings, means preserving the situation that existed before the dispute arose. He argued that proceeding with a convention under these circumstances directly contravenes the law.
The APC official also challenged attempts to link President Bola Tinubu to these opposition party issues, questioning if the president had instructed anyone to disregard court orders. He dismissed as baseless the notion that the ruling party was instigating crises within opposition parties.
"Is it President Bola Tinubu that is telling them to violate an Act, contrary to the express position of the Court of Appeal that said don’t create any situation that will affect pending proceedings?" he asked.
The ADC convention in question reportedly led to significant decisions, including the expulsion of a factional chairman, Nafiu Bala, along with a House of Representatives member, Leke Abejide, and several others like Kingsley Temitope, Noman Obinna, Kennedy Odion, and Stella Chukwuma.
Party officials stated these expulsions were due to alleged anti-party activities and were executed in accordance with the party's constitution, which grants the convention the authority to discipline members. However, critics contend that these decisions are questionable due to the ongoing litigation concerning the party's leadership.
Mr. Basiru reiterated that the APC has no involvement in the internal conflicts of other political parties, noting that Nigeria has approximately 19 registered political parties, most of which are not experiencing similar crises.
He suggested that parties facing continuous disputes should assess whether they are adhering to the legal and constitutional frameworks governing their operations.
He also referenced internal conflicts within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where factions have sought legal recourse, to demonstrate that political crises are not exclusive to any single party.
He added that courts have consistently emphasized the importance of due process, including rejecting applications that could disrupt ongoing legal proceedings.
Drawing a parallel with his own party, Mr. Basiru stated that the APC has previously complied with court orders, even when it resulted in political disadvantages.
He cited the APC's experiences in Zamfara and Rivers states, where legal challenges affected their participation in elections, asserting that the party accepted the judicial outcomes without protest.
He contended that democracy should not be reduced to the "unbridled ambition" of individuals seeking to maintain perpetual power, but must be founded on respect for institutions, the rule of law, and freedom of expression.
"Democracy is not just about unbridled ambition of a few individuals to continue to be in the corridor of power perpetually. The hallmark of democracy is heterogeneity of ideas, freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom to organise — and these are clearly evident in our country," he said.
He also defended the state of press freedom in Nigeria, pointing out that criticisms of the government are widespread, serving as evidence of democratic liberties.
"Today, perhaps Nigeria has one of the largest numbers of independent media. Every morning, we read editorials critical of our government. Every day, we have talk shows criticising the government," he added.
Separately, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda asserted that the party remains robust and is expanding, citing its electoral successes nationwide and a membership exceeding 14 million.
He indicated that the party is enhancing its internal democracy through reforms such as membership verification, auditing procedures, and conflict resolution mechanisms at all levels.
"We submitted our audited accounts. INEC came to our office today, verified our books, our operations, and we are waiting for feedback so we can improve," he stated.
He added that the APC is strengthening engagement with its elected officials, including governors, members of the National Assembly, and the executive branch, to ensure governance aligns with party objectives.
Mr. Yilwatda further noted that the APC is committed to building an inclusive political structure that accommodates youth, women, and diverse ethnic and religious groups, while maintaining internal stability through consensus- building and structured dispute resolution.
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