All Progressives Congress Dismisses Conspiracy Claims and Defends Electoral Commission Leadership Amid ADC Crisis

Senator Ajibola Basiru dismisses claims of a one party state plot and explains the legal basis for the electoral commission's recent actions.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Channels TV

Ruling Party Rejects Interference Allegations

The All Progressives Congress has officially dismissed claims of a conspiracy involving President Bola Tinubu aimed at destabilizing the opposition through the electoral umpire. Addressing the media in Abuja, the party described allegations from the Senator David Mark led faction of the African Democratic Congress as baseless and a clear attempt to deflect from deep seated internal issues. According to Lucky Obewo-Isawode, the ruling party maintains that the President lacks any constitutional authority to intervene in the private administrative affairs of political parties or the independent functions of the commission. This response follows accusations that the presidency is actively seeking to foster a one party state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Legal Justification for Commission Actions

Senator Ajibola Basiru, the National Secretary of the ruling party, emphasized that the recent delisting of certain opposition leaders was a direct legal consequence of judicial proceedings. He explained that the Court of Appeal had dismissed an appeal filed by the David Mark faction for being incompetent, subsequently ordering all parties to maintain the status quo. Basiru argued that the electoral commission is simply implementing the fallout of this judicial dismissal rather than acting on political whims. The ruling party maintains that the opposition's grievances should be directed toward the legal system rather than the executive branch, as the judiciary is the sole arbiter of the ongoing leadership dispute.

Critique of Opposition Legal Strategy

The ruling party expressed significant concern over what it described as the opposition’s disregard for established legal processes. Basiru pointed out that the faction led by Senator Mark has insisted on moving forward with party congresses and national conventions despite the existence of a subsisting court order to maintain the status quo. This behavior, according to the ruling party, raises serious questions about the opposition's respect for the rule of law and the sanctity of the Nigerian judicial system. The APC warned that continuing down this path of legal defiance would only result in further complications for the party's legitimacy as the 2027 cycle approaches.