PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of allegedly undermining opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election, claiming the President is apprehensive about facing a credible contest.
Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), in a statement on Friday, questioned what he described as the President’s reluctance to engage in a competitive electoral process, urging Nigerians to demand accountability over actions he alleged were targeted at weakening opposition platforms.
The ADC stalwart was reacting to the reported delisting of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party respectively from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal, a development he described as troubling.
In the strongly worded statement, Eze criticised what he termed increasing interference in the affairs of opposition parties, alleging that despite the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the administration was still uneasy about the prospects of the 2027 elections.
He further alleged that recent political developments point to a pattern of attempts to weaken opposition structures, citing what he described as the destabilisation of major parties and growing pressure on emerging platforms like the ADC.
The party chieftain, however, urged Nigerians not to lose hope, calling for unity and collective resolve in defending democratic principles and resisting what he described as anti-democratic tendencies.
Eze also expressed confidence that alleged moves to destabilise the ADC, including the emergence of individuals he claimed had previously exited the party, would ultimately fail.
He maintained that the ADC remains a viable platform capable of providing credible opposition, urging party members to remain focused and committed to planned political activities.
Citing a Supreme Court judgment delivered on March 21, 2025, in the case involving Senator Samuel Anyanwu and others, Eze argued that internal party matters should not be subject to external interference, stressing that political parties must be allowed to manage their own affairs without undue intrusion.
He noted that the apex court had clearly established that leadership disputes within political parties are not justiciable, adding that institutions such as INEC must respect party autonomy and limit their role to regulatory oversight in line with electoral laws.
While calling on the ADC to remain steadfast, Eze described the party as a critical force in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, urging its leadership to continue mobilising and strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
He concluded by emphasising the need for vigilance among Nigerians, insisting that the preservation of democratic values requires sustained engagement and unity among citizens and political actors alike.
