The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday observed with grave concern the deteriorating state of the so-called opposition parties in Nigeria as the nation gradually approaches the 2027 general elections, noting that it poses danger to the country’s democracy.
It said rather than serve as credible watchdogs, policy challengers, or intellectual counterweights to the ruling party, the opposition has degenerated into a coalition of desperation, confusion, and hypocrisy, “the very bane of Nigeria’s democratic growth.”
The spokesman of the party, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, said the health of any democracy is measured by the quality, depth, and seriousness of its opposition, “its ideas, organization, and consistency. Sadly, Nigeria’s opposition has failed woefully on all counts. It lacks leadership, cohesion, and a binding political philosophy. The nation has watched in disbelief as individuals who once claimed to stand for ideological purity now leapfrog from one platform to another in search of personal relevance. The opposition’s moral compass has been completely eroded, leaving behind a band of opportunists united only by their lust for power.”
In a statement he signed, Oladejo said: “this chaotic and rudderless reality stands in sharp contrast to the opposition years under the visionary leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who as a master political strategist and democrat, built a formidable coalition rooted in principles, ideas, and structure. Asiwaju’s opposition politics was defined by clarity of purpose, ideological direction, and consistency of engagement. He offered Nigerians a credible alternative founded on progressivism, good governance, and national unity.
“It was that brand of purposeful and issue-driven opposition that gave birth to the All Progressives Congress (APC) – a product of strategic coalition, political discipline, and intellectual depth – which Nigerians overwhelmingly voted into power in 2015. The APC of today is a testament to what visionary and responsible opposition politics can achieve when driven by patriotism rather than personal ambition.
“While President Tinubu’s administration continues to pursue the Renewed Hope Agenda with courage and clarity – implementing tough but necessary reforms to reposition the economy and restore national pride – the opposition of today is preoccupied with propaganda, bitterness, and blind ambition. At a time when the government is working to stabilize the economy, empower citizens, and strengthen national unity, the opposition remains fixated on divisive rhetoric and self-serving noise.”
The APC finds it troubling that none of the opposition parties has presented any coherent roadmap for the economy, security, education, or social development.
He noted that “their default strategy remains to demonize government policies while offering no credible alternatives. Such an unserious and visionless opposition can only undermine the progress of democracy by reducing public discourse to noise and confusion.
“Indeed, the absence of credible alternatives has become one of the major reasons for the growing voter apathy witnessed during elections. Nigerians are fast losing interest in a political opposition that neither inspires confidence nor offers any hope of genuine change. Democracy thrives on choice – and when one side of the political divide consistently fails to evolve, citizens naturally disengage from the process.”
The spokesman of the state chapter of the party added: “Let it be known that democracy thrives not just on the conduct of elections but on the quality of engagement between the ruling party and a constructive opposition. Unfortunately, what we have today is a fragmented assemblage of self-appointed messiahs and expired politicians who mistake social media noise for national relevance.”
The Lagos APC therefore called on Nigerians to see through the facade of this rudderless opposition, noting that the coming 2027 elections will not be a contest between the ruling APC and any formidable alternative, “it will be a referendum on performance, vision, and national stability. On all these fronts, the APC stands head and shoulders above the rest.”
Oladejo assured that the APC remains committed to building a prosperous, secure, and inclusive nation under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The opposition, if it truly wishes to contribute to democratic progress, must first learn the basic art of leadership, discipline, and sincerity of purpose. Until then, it will remain the biggest threat to the deepening of democracy in Nigeria,” he added.