The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed concerns over ongoing mass defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that no amount of political cross-carpeting can rescue the ruling party from defeat in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, the party accused the APC of panic and desperation in the face of dwindling public trust.
Mr Abdullahi was reacting to comments made by Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, APC National Chairman, who told stakeholders in Jos, Plateau State, that the ruling party was set to receive “key ADC figures” in the coming week.
Describing the announcement as a publicity stunt, the ADC spokesperson said it reflected the APC’s “deep realisation that it cannot be saved even if all the governors in Nigeria defected to its ranks.”
“This is why, even with all the governors and senators they have been bragging about, the APC is still desperate for ADC members,” Mr Abdullahi stated.
He accused the ruling party of presiding over a failed administration that has inflicted untold hardship on Nigerians.
“The truth remains that the APC realises it has become the most hated party in Nigeria, and no amount of defections can save it from Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed since it came to power,” he wrote.
Mr Abdullahi described the recent wave of defections as a gang-up by the ruling elite against ordinary citizens, likening the APC’s current tactics to those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during its years of dominance.
“Like we have noted earlier, the recent gale of high-profile defections to the ruling party is properly understood by ordinary Nigerians as a gang-up against the people by a ruling elite who have left the people behind in abject poverty and are only interested in self-preservation even as their people wallow in misery,” he added.
The ADC challenged the APC to name the alleged “key members” of the party expected to defect, saying the ruling party had resorted to “shadowy references” in an attempt to save face.
“If these individuals are so key, let the chairman of the hated party mention their names,” Abdullahi said.
He added that real democratic power lies with the people, not with politicians chasing survival through defection.
“There is nothing new in the game the APC is playing. It is the same ruinous game that the PDP played at the height of its powers. The APC will also learn the bitter lesson that real democratic power lies with the people and not a few power merchants,” he asserted.
