The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to resolve its internal crisis and stop blaming it or President Bola Tinubu.
It spoke on Friday at a news conference addressed by its National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
The ADC had alleged that Tinubu was weakening opposition parties to impose a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general election.
It also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of unlawfully de-recognising its David Mark-led leadership.
The ADC claimed the commission misinterpreted a Court of Appeal order directing parties to maintain the status quo.
It further accused INEC of partisanship and contempt, calling for the removal of its chairman and commissioners.
Responding, Basiru described the allegations as baseless, saying the facts were clear to Nigerians and the international community.
He urged the ADC to accept responsibility, noting that blaming others would not resolve its internal leadership disputes.
He said: “No amount of external finger-pointing can erase their consistent failures or resolve their lingering leadership issues.
“It is wishful thinking to expect other parties to rescue it from problems it has repeatedly failed to manage.”
Basiru cited the APC’s loss of seats in Zamfara State in a general election due to internal crisis as an example of the rule of law at work.
“No outrage, no conspiracy theories, just consequences of failing to put your house in order,” he said.
He dismissed claims that Tinubu sought a one-party state, noting Nigeria still has 22 registered political parties.
“President Tinubu has no power to deregister any political party,” he said.
He blamed the ADC’s crisis on lack of internal democracy and disregard for court orders.
Basiru said the dispute began when a Mark-led group allegedly took over party leadership without involving all stakeholders.
This, he noted, triggered litigation at the Federal High Court and an adverse Court of Appeal judgment.
He explained that INEC declined to recognise either faction pending the court’s final determination.
“The ADC made a fundamental legal mistake by approaching the Court of Appeal during an ongoing trial,” he said.
Basiru said INEC acted within the court’s directive, questioning why Tinubu was being blamed.
