By Peter Omopo
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that Nigeria’s democracy is facing an “existential threat,” describing the assertion as alarmist and driven by political motives.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party said Atiku’s comments were ironic, coming from what it described as a political tendency that had, in the past, repeatedly tested and strained democratic institutions.
The Lagos APC also criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC), through which the comments were amplified, describing the party as ideologically uncertain and struggling for relevance after failing to gain widespread electoral support.
According to the ruling party, Nigeria’s democratic system has continued to function effectively since the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023. It cited the conduct of elections, judicial adjudication of disputes, legislative oversight and the continued enjoyment of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms as evidence.
“The opposition has spoken freely, protested freely, and litigated freely—hardly the attributes of a nation under democratic siege,” the statement said.
The APC argued that what is being framed as a threat to democracy is, in reality, a reflection of the opposition’s diminishing political relevance. It added that internal contradictions and unchecked ambition within the ADC-led coalition could undermine its stability.
The party further noted that winning and losing are inherent aspects of democratic competition, stressing that democracy does not collapse simply because individual political ambitions are frustrated.
Reaffirming its confidence in the Tinubu administration, the Lagos APC said Nigeria’s democracy remains resilient and firmly anchored under the president’s leadership, adding that ongoing reforms are grounded in constitutional order, the rule of law and democratic accountability.
The party urged Atiku Abubakar and his political allies to “confront reality honestly,” insisting that Nigeria’s democracy is not in danger and that Nigerians have moved beyond what it described as politics of fear and alarmism.
