We're not threatened by gathering of disgruntled politicians - APC national secretary
The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has dismissed plans by opposition parties to form a united front against the governing party, describing the
The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has dismissed plans by opposition parties to form a united front against the governing party, describing the move as impracticable.
Reacting to the outcome of the Ibadan summit reportedly attended by representatives of 10 political parties, Basiru, in a telephone interview, characterised the gathering as mere “fanfare” by “disgruntled politicians.”
He argued that the meeting did not constitute a legitimate summit of political parties but rather “a theatre of confused-minded politicians.”
According to him, the claim that 10 parties participated lacked both legal and structural backing, insisting that no recognised political party can convene without authorisation from its National Working Committee (NWC) or National Executive Committee (NEC).
“The so-called Ibadan summit is a ruse,” Basiru said. “It was an assemblage of individuals, not ten political parties. For parties to meet, there must be prior authorisation from their NWC or NEC. Without that, it is simply a gathering of individuals.”
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Basiru also pointed to ongoing leadership disputes within major opposition parties, questioning the legitimacy of those involved in the meeting.
“The leadership of the PDP is still being contested, with matters pending before the Supreme Court. The same applies to others. On what authority are they meeting?” he asked.
He further described the opposition’s attempt at coalition-building as contradictory, noting that the same figures had previously alleged that Nigeria was drifting towards a one-party state under the APC.
“If they now claim that ten political parties met to gang up against one party, it contradicts their earlier narrative. It shows that the political space remains open, but they lack the strength to compete individually,” he said.
Dismissing concerns about a possible opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections, Basiru expressed confidence that no formidable coalition would emerge.
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“I do not see any viable coalition. What I see are individuals driven by personal ambitions. They will soon begin to disagree among themselves,” he added.
He emphasised that Nigerian electoral laws recognise only registered political parties, each of which must field its own candidates, describing the coalition idea as “an admission of weakness.”
On remarks attributed to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde referencing “Operation Wet e,” Basiru condemned the statement, describing it as irresponsible and potentially inciting.
He cautioned against invoking historical episodes associated with violence, urging political leaders to exercise restraint in public discourse.
“It is irresponsible for a sitting governor to make statements that could be interpreted as inciting, especially without proper context. Such references are unnecessary in today’s political environment,” he said.
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Basiru advised the governor to adopt a more measured tone and urged Nigerians to reject any rhetoric capable of escalating tensions.
Maintaining his stance, the APC scribe concluded that the Ibadan meeting posed no threat to the ruling party, describing it instead as evidence of an opposition struggling with internal divisions and lack of direction.
“They should focus on presenting credible candidates rather than making statements borne out of frustration,” he said.
