2027 General Election: No Big Deal If ADC Is Stopped From Fielding Candidates-Lagos APC

Lagos State APC has reacted to the alarm raised by the David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the recent decision taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may prevent the party from fielding candidates in the upcoming 2027 General Election.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the state APC reacted to this in a statement issued by its spokesman, Hon Seye Oladejo on Tuesday submitting that while political pluralism remains a cornerstone of democracy, it must however be stated unequivocally that democracy is governed by laws and institutional procedures-not by sentiment, entitlement, or alarmist propaganda.

The party submitted that heaven will not fall if ADC is eventually stopped from fielding candidates in the 2027 General Election.

‘INEC, as the constitutionally empowered electoral body, operates strictly within the bounds of the law to safeguard the integrity, order, and credibility of the electoral process. Compliance is not optional. Any political party that fails to meet the stipulated requirements must bear the full consequences of its own actions.

The situation confronting the ADC is neither novel nor exceptional. The APC itself has previously endured similar legal and electoral consequences:

In Zamfara State during the 2019 general election, the APC was barred from fielding candidates due to invalid primaries, resulting in the Supreme Court nullifying all its victories.

In Rivers State in the same election cycle, the party was excluded owing to internal disputes and flawed nomination processes, as affirmed by the courts.

These precedents reinforce a simple truth: no political party is above the law, and no amount of noise can substitute for compliance.

It is therefore disingenuous for a faction-ridden opposition party to externalize blame and attempt to cast the ruling party as a scapegoat for what are clearly self-inflicted wounds. The ADC’s growing reputation for disorder, indiscipline, and procedural recklessness has reduced it to a subject of public ridicule.

More troubling is the exposure of its so-called leadership-individuals once presented as seasoned statesmen, but who now appear directionless, incoherent, and incapable of managing even the most basic requirements of party organization. Their failure to demonstrate discipline, cohesion, and respect for due process raises serious doubts about their fitness for democratic engagement.

It is perhaps no coincidence that some among them were active participants or apologists in eras where arbitrariness, rather than the rule of law, prevailed. Their evident discomfort with constitutional order and institutional discipline is a reflection of that legacy.

Let it be clearly stated: the APC will not be blackmailed into accepting responsibility for the ADC’s ineptitude, recklessness, and desperation-driven miscalculations. As they scramble in search of another political platform to appropriate, they would be well advised to acquaint themselves with the legal principle of caveat emptor-let the buyer beware’ he said.

The statement added that electoral process is ‘bigger than any single political party’ and ‘Heaven will not fall if the ADC-or any other party-fails to appear on the ballot as a result of non-compliance with rules’.

‘Rather than resorting to noisy lamentations and public theatrics, political parties should put their houses in order, resolve internal contradictions, and adhere strictly to electoral guidelines.

Nigeria’s democracy can only be strengthened through discipline, accountability, and respect for institutions-not through excuses and manufactured outrage’ he added.

The statement also noted that APC remains steadfast in its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections while urging all stakeholders to act in ways that build, rather than erode, public confidence in the democratic process.

Recall that ADC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi had accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately deploying administrative landmines to prevent the party from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections.

‘In simple terms, INEC is effectively threatening that unless the courts deliver judgment on the ADC leadership issue by May 10, it will prevent the ADC from producing candidates.

This places the ADC in an impossible position and creates a clear pathway to artificial non-compliance, which can then be used to justify excluding the Party from fielding candidates. That is the landmine’ the statement said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you