National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, has urged opposition parties to stop attributing their internal crises to the ruling party, emphasizing that political parties must take responsibility for managing their own affairs.
Speaking during a media chat on Wednesday, Basiru addressed concerns that the APC influences or frustrates opposition activities. He dismissed the allegations, stating there is no evidence linking the ruling party to the disputes affecting other political parties.
Basiru argued that most internal conflicts within opposition parties stem from their own disagreements and failure to adhere to due process, rather than external interference. “Have you seen any APC member challenging our internal processes? If you say APC is the source of the problem, you must first look at whether those parties are following due process,” he said.
He criticized parties that proceed with conventions despite court orders, calling it a clear violation of the law. “Where is the end of political party discipline if people ignore court rulings and still conduct parallel leadership processes?” he questioned.
Basiru maintained that the APC operates within the law and respects democratic institutions, including the judiciary. He urged opposition parties to focus on resolving their internal issues rather than blaming the ruling party.
His comments come amid ongoing leadership disputes in several opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), which have faced factional crises in recent months. The APC leader’s remarks highlight the broader challenges of political party management and adherence to legal frameworks in Nigeria’s democratic system.
