The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has criticised opposition parties in Nigeria, describing them as “directionless” and accusing them of failing to play their democratic roles effectively.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, expressed concern over what he called the deteriorating condition of opposition parties as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.
Oladejo noted that the absence of a strong and credible opposition was unhealthy for Nigeria’s democracy.
“Rather than serve as credible watchdogs, policy challengers, or intellectual counterweights to the ruling party, the opposition has degenerated into a coalition of desperation, confusion, and hypocrisy – the very bane of Nigeria’s democratic growth,” he said.
He added, “The health of any democracy is measured by the quality, depth, and seriousness of its opposition – its ideas, organisation, and consistency. Sadly, Nigeria’s opposition has failed woefully on all counts. It lacks leadership, cohesion, and a binding political philosophy.”
Oladejo accused some opposition figures of abandoning principles for personal gain, saying, “The nation has watched in disbelief as individuals who once claimed to stand for ideological purity now leapfrog from one platform to another in search of personal relevance. The opposition’s moral compass has been completely eroded, leaving behind a band of opportunists united only by their lust for power.”
He contrasted the current state of opposition politics with the era when President Bola Tinubu was a leading opposition figure, describing him as “a master political strategist and democrat” who built a coalition based on “principles, ideas, and structure.”
According to Oladejo, “He offered Nigerians a credible alternative founded on progressivism, good governance, and national unity.”
He maintained that the APC of today stands as “a testament to what visionary and responsible opposition politics can achieve when driven by patriotism rather than personal ambition.”
Oladejo further stated that President Tinubu’s administration has continued to pursue the Renewed Hope Agenda with courage and clarity, implementing “tough but necessary reforms to reposition the economy and restore national pride.”
Condemning the opposition’s approach, Oladejo said, “The APC finds it troubling that none of the opposition parties has presented any coherent roadmap for the economy, security, education, or social development. Their default strategy remains to demonise government policies while offering no credible alternatives.”
He warned that such behaviour undermines democracy and erodes public confidence.
“Democracy thrives on choice – and when one side of the political divide consistently fails to evolve, citizens naturally disengage from the process,” he said.
Oladejo concluded by asserting that Nigeria’s democracy suffers from the weakness of its opposition.
“Unfortunately, what we have today is a fragmented assemblage of self-appointed messiahs and expired politicians who mistake social media noise for national relevance,” he added.
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