Sunday Dare Denies Plot to Limit 2027 Election Ballot to APC

Sunday Dare, who serves as the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, has strongly refuted accusations that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) is orchestrating a scheme to control the ballot in the 2027 general elections. Dare asserted that there is no hidden or explicit design aimed at ensuring only the APC appears on the ballot.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television's 'Politics Today' program, Dare stated, “There is no design whether covertly or overtly to have just the APC on the ballot. We have 21 parties registered to compete on the ballot; every party has the right to field a candidate. Now the APC will not roll out the carpet and close shop because other parties are struggling.”

His remarks were a direct response to allegations made by Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Abdullahi had previously accused the APC of deliberately fostering internal disputes within opposition parties to diminish electoral competition leading up to the 2027 polls. He further alleged that the ruling party was working to establish Nigeria as a one-party state, a move the ADC vowed to oppose.

However, Dare dismissed these claims, arguing that Nigeria's democratic environment remains open and accessible. He cited the freedom of opposition parties to interact with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including the right to stage protests, as clear evidence of the prevailing political freedom.

The presidential aide also maintained that neither the APC nor the President feels threatened by the activities of the opposition. He emphasized that the administration's primary focus is on governance, with party matters being handled separately.

Furthermore, Dare characterized the internal challenges plaguing the ADC as a result of the party's own actions, criticizing its management of its internal affairs. “What you are seeing here is self-inflicted. You decide to come in through the backdoor, you decide to ignore the fact that there are petitions and court cases.

“You decide to think that because you are in the opposition and you can shout very loud… what has happened to the ADC in the last several months is a locus classicus of how not to run an opposition, how not to hijack a political party, and how not to run a party,” Dare articulated.

He advised the opposition party to seek resolutions for its grievances through established legal channels, rather than attributing its difficulties to the ruling party.