The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has criticized the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for its internal chaos and disarray, claiming that the party’s stance on zoning and its handling of Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential ambitions reflect a deep ideological collapse.

In a statement issued by APC spokesman Seye Oladejo, the ruling party mocked the ADC for publicly instructing Peter Obi to clarify his intentions for the 2027 elections, while simultaneously declaring that zoning is no longer relevant. Oladejo argued that the situation exposes the contradictions and lack of direction within the opposition.

The APC spokesperson said, “Nigeria woke up to yet another episode of opposition disarray and ideological bankruptcy,” adding that the ADC’s conflicting messages – rejecting zoning one day and then seeking relevance the next – highlight a party unable to make up its mind about its political goals.

Oladejo went further, describing the ADC as a “hollow coalition of contradictions” and accusing it of being a vehicle for a “miscarriage of one man’s lifelong presidential obsession,” referring to Peter Obi. According to Oladejo, the party is a “coalition without democracy, without fairness and without future”, engineered to fail from the start.

He also criticized Obi’s political tactics, stating that the Labour Party candidate had become adept at waiting for political opportunities to fall into his lap rather than actively competing for them. Oladejo painted Obi’s approach as opportunistic, positioning himself to strike when desperation reaches a peak in distressed political parties.

The APC also warned that, like in the 2023 presidential election, there were indications that another “free presidential ticket” could be waiting to land in Obi’s hands, without the need for him to put in the hard work required for a successful campaign.

The statement concluded by urging the opposition to stop distracting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with “needless politicking and manufactured drama,” emphasizing that the APC’s focus is on governance, national challenges, and leadership. The ruling party claimed that it had made significant strides in areas such as infrastructure, security, economy, education, and healthcare, and that its achievements would speak for themselves in future elections.

Oladejo reaffirmed that “2027 is not for confused coalitions”, stressing that the upcoming election should be about “prepared leadership”, not political experiments. He concluded by asserting that the ADC-Obi face-off was no longer an internal party dispute but a “public confession of collapse” for the opposition.

As the battle for the 2027 presidency heats up, it remains to be seen how the ADC and other opposition parties will regroup or respond to the mounting criticisms from the ruling APC.