|By Adejumo Adekunle
…Party says Aso Rock not family estate, challenges Tinubu to earn re-election
…Accuses ruling party of arrogance, failure, and disregard for suffering Nigerians
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for suggesting that the 2027 presidential race is already sealed in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the seat of power is not a family inheritance.
The ADC was reacting to a statement by the newly appointed APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who recently boasted that “there will be no open seat in Aso Rock come 2027.”
In a strongly worded response issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the statement as “arrogant, undemocratic, and disrespectful to the Nigerian people.”
According to the ADC, the APC chairman’s remarks insult the intelligence and rights of Nigerians who, despite enduring harsh economic conditions, still hold the power to choose their leaders through the ballot box.
“The APC Chairman’s declaration of ‘no vacancy in Aso Rock’ is presumptuous and disrespectful to Nigerians who are tired of hunger, insecurity, joblessness, and unfulfilled promises. They cannot wait to reclaim their future at the ballot box,” the statement read.
It added: “We know the APC is scared and would rather avoid facing voters on election day. The very principle of democracy means that every incumbent must renew their mandate. So regardless of what the APC thinks, there will be a vacancy in the Presidential Villa in 2027. President Tinubu must reapply to Nigerians and prove why he deserves to continue, despite his ruinous policies that have made life miserable for the majority.”
The ADC highlighted key failures under the APC-led administration, including the skyrocketing cost of food, worsening insecurity, erratic electricity supply, and deepening poverty.
It further accused the APC of self-praise in the face of nationwide hardship, noting that the ruling party’s posture sends a dangerous message to struggling citizens.
“To say there’s no vacancy two years before an election is like telling Nigerians their votes don’t matter. It’s an insult to struggling parents, jobless graduates, and business owners who are suffering through no fault of theirs,” the ADC stressed. “Come 2027, the APC must reapply to lead this country. They don’t get to score themselves.”
The party urged Nigerians not to be distracted by political grandstanding, but to focus on demanding real leadership and holding all political actors accountable through their votes.
