The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, has said there is no plan to have only the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the ballot in the 2027 general elections.

Dare, a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, made the clarification while speaking as a guest on Politics Today on Channels Television on Monday.

He was reacting to a protest by the African Democratic Congress, ADC, over the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to suspend recognition of the party’s leadership factions following various court rulings.

INEC had suspended recognition of the ADC leadership factions, including the one led by David Mark, citing a March Court of Appeal ruling and ongoing internal disputes within the party.

The ADC described the move as a plot to exclude it from the 2027 elections and staged a protest against the decision.

Dare, however, dismissed the allegation, insisting that the political space remains open.

“There are 20 political parties in Nigeria today. No one is stopping them from functioning.

“The All Progressives Congress will not close shop because other political parties are enmeshed in one crisis or the other,” he said.

He accused the ADC and other opposition parties of resorting to sentiment instead of building strong political structures capable of challenging the ruling party.

Dare also rejected claims that the APC-led Federal Government was shrinking the political space, maintaining that opposition parties operate freely.

“The Federal Government will always protect the rights of the people to carry out their activities,” he said.

He added that the ability of ADC members to protest freely and the media’s criticism of the President were clear indications of democratic freedom.

“Journalists work freely and  criticise the President on a daily basis without interference.

“Is it the duty of the President to organise the opposition?” he queried.

Dare emphasised that building a viable political party requires time, sacrifice, and commitment.

“Building a strong political party is a tedious process. We all know how difficult it was to build the APC.

“The APC is not the architect of ADC’s crisis; it is self-inflicted. Instead of strengthening their party, their leaders are looking for shortcuts.

“If you cannot make the necessary sacrifices, you should not blame others for the outcome,” he said.

NAN