- Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress interfered in opposition party affairs
- He said internal disputes within opposition parties were largely due to procedural lapses and failure to follow due process
- Basiru urged political parties to respect court rulings and uphold discipline to strengthen democratic institutions
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, has urged opposition parties in Nigeria to stop blaming the ruling party for their internal challenges, insisting that political organisations must take responsibility for managing their own affairs.
Basiru made the remarks during a media chat on Wednesday, where he addressed growing allegations that the APC interferes in the activities of opposition parties.
He dismissed such claims, stating that there is no credible evidence linking the ruling party to the internal crises currently affecting opposition groups. According to him, most disputes stem from internal disagreements and procedural lapses within the parties themselves.
“Have you seen any APC member challenging our internal processes?” Basiru queried. “If you say APC is the source of the problem, you must first look at whether those parties are following due process.”
He further cautioned against what he described as attempts to undermine democratic institutions for political advantage, particularly the judiciary. “We cannot be casting aspersions on the institution of the judiciary or democracy just to serve political narratives,” he said.
The APC secretary also criticised instances where political parties proceed with conventions or leadership decisions despite existing court rulings. He argued that such actions erode party discipline and weaken democratic norms.
“Some parties go ahead with conventions despite court orders, which is clearly in violation of the law,” Basiru stated. “Where is the end of political party discipline if people ignore court rulings and still conduct parallel leadership processes?”
His comments come amid ongoing tensions within several opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which recently held a controversial national convention despite a leadership dispute and lack of recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Basiru maintained that the APC remains committed to operating within the law and respecting democratic institutions, including the judiciary. He reiterated that political parties must adhere to legal frameworks and internal regulations to ensure stability and credibility.
“Stop blaming APC for internal party crises. Political parties must look inward and manage their affairs within the framework of the law,” he said.
ADC insists convention will hold despite venue dispute
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) convention planning committee, Dino Melaye, has declared that no force can prevent the party from proceeding with its scheduled convention, despite reported attempts to deny access to the venue.
The convention, slated for Tuesday, had faced uncertainty amid claims that organisers were being blocked from using the agreed facility. Concerns emerged after reports suggested that the party was at risk of losing the venue at the last minute.