A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of exhibiting fear and rising insecurity ahead of the 2027 presidential election, despite the ruling party’s control of a majority of state governments.
In a strongly worded press statement issued on Friday, Eze contended that the President’s alleged moves against opposition parties betray what he described as “a growing apprehension over a competitive electoral contest,” even with the All Progressives Congress (APC) boasting 33 sitting governors across the federation.
The ADC stalwart questioned why a government with such extensive political dominance would, in his view, resort to actions capable of weakening opposition platforms. He argued that recent developments involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suggest a troubling pattern of interference in party affairs.
Eze was reacting to the reported delisting of Senator David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, respectively, from INEC’s official portal.
He described the development as “an unwarranted intrusion” into the internal workings of a political party.
According to him, such actions undermine democratic principles and raise concerns about institutional neutrality. “It is inconceivable that a leader who prides himself as a democrat would be associated with attempts to stifle opposition voices ahead of a general election,” Eze said.
He further alleged that the administration has, over time, influenced key democratic institutions, including the judiciary and security agencies, to its advantage claims that have not been independently verified.
Eze also referenced the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, alleging that his political activities have contributed to internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), thereby weakening one of the country’s major opposition parties ahead of 2027.
On the legal front, the ADC chieftain cited a recent Supreme Court judgment delivered on March 21, 2025, in the case involving Senator Samuel Anyanwu and others, which, according to him, reaffirmed the principle that internal party disputes are non-justiciable.
He noted that the apex court, in a lead judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, emphasized that courts lack jurisdiction over purely internal political party matters.
Eze argued that the implication of the ruling is that INEC must refrain from actions that could be interpreted as interference in party leadership structures, stressing that the commission’s role should be limited to monitoring compliance with electoral laws.
Describing the current political climate as worrisome, he warned of what he termed a gradual erosion of democratic norms, alleging that opposition parties are being systematically weakened to pave the way for a less competitive electoral environment in 2027.
He, however, urged members of the ADC to remain resolute and proceed with scheduled party activities, expressing confidence that what he described as “external pressures” would ultimately fail.
“The ADC must rise to the occasion as a viable platform for democratic renewal,” Eze stated, calling on Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to the preservation of democratic values.
The Presidency and INEC have yet to officially respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
