Presidential aide Sunday Dare denies plot to sideline opposition in 2027 elections
The special adviser to the president on media and communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, has said there is no plan to have only the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the ballot in the 2027 elections.
Dare, a former minister of youth and sports, made the clarification while appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme, responding to protests by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s suspension of recognition for the party’s leadership factions.
The ADC leadership, including the faction led by Senator David Mark, has been affected by the decision, which follows a March Court of Appeal ruling and ongoing internal disputes within the party. ADC members have described INEC’s action as a plot to block them from participating in the 2027 elections.
“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,” Dare said.
He accused the ADC and other rivals of seeking to manipulate public sentiment instead of building strong political structures capable of challenging the ruling party. He rejected suggestions that the APC-led federal government was restricting political space, pointing out that opposition leaders and journalists operate freely.
“Journalists work freely and attack the President on a daily basis with no one stopping them from doing their job. Building a strong political force requires sacrifice and hard work. If you cannot do that, don’t blame someone else for the resultant failure,” he added.
