…Says Presidency not a birthright, Tinubu must justify second term
…Insists Tinubu must reapply in 2027, propaganda won’t save ruling party
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) for declaring there would be “no vacancy in Aso Rock” in 2027, describing the remark as arrogant, undemocratic, and an affront to Nigerian voters.
The condemnation followed a comment by APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who during a meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, stated that the presidency would remain under APC control in the next general elections.
Responding in a statement on Wednesday, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the assertion as presumptuous and a blatant disregard for citizens’ right to choose their leaders through the ballot.
“The APC Chairman’s recent declaration of ‘no vacancy in Aso Rock’ is presumptuous and disrespectful of the Nigerian people, who are tired of hunger, insecurity, joblessness, and unfulfilled promises, and therefore cannot wait to reclaim their future at the ballot box,” the statement read.
The party said the ruling party’s posture betrays a deep-seated fear of electoral defeat and appears to suggest a willingness to undermine democratic norms.
“We understand why APC is afraid and would wish that they could somehow avoid that day of reckoning with the ballot box. The very fact of periodic elections means that every incumbent must renew its mandate,” it said.
The ADC warned that such rhetoric sends a troubling message that the APC is indifferent to the suffering of Nigerians and uninterested in earning a renewed mandate through performance.
“This is why, to declare no vacancy two years before an election is to spit in the face of every Nigerian who still believes in their democratic power. It is to say: your vote does not matter. It is to mock the pain of the mothers and fathers who cannot afford food, the graduate who cannot find a job, and the entrepreneurs whose businesses have collapsed due to no fault of theirs.”
Reiterating its position, the ADC insisted that President Bola Tinubu must seek re-election like any other candidate, and must convince Nigerians of his fitness to continue in office.
“Therefore, regardless of what APC thinks, there will be a vacancy at the Presidential Villa in 2027. President Tinubu must reapply to the Nigerian people, and he must show Nigerians why they should allow him to continue on the job, despite his ruinous policies that have made life miserable for the majority.
“In 2027, APC and President Tinubu will be evaluated based on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of youth employment, security of lives, hunger and poverty, electricity supply, and justice to all,” the statement added.
The opposition party criticised the administration’s focus on media image while the economic reality continues to deteriorate.
“The APC government and its media operatives continue to clap for themselves and award themselves medals of excellence. Meanwhile, the price of food has continued to rise beyond the reach of the majority of Nigerians, an ever-increasing number of our communities are being taken over by bandits, and our Naira remains battered and broken.”
It maintained that Nigerians are not deceived by “self-praise and propaganda,” warning that public discontent is mounting.
According to the ADC, the office of the President is not the entitlement of any party or individual but a position that must be earned and retained on the basis of performance.
“The Nigerian presidency is not a birthright, but a position that must be earned and renewed based on performance,” the statement declared.
It urged citizens to remain alert and fully engaged in the democratic process, stating that real power lies with the people, not political parties.
“The people, and not political parties, will decide who leads Nigeria in 2027.”
