The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the list of registered political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Basiru argued that ballot papers should not be overcrowded with parties he described as nonviable.
He dismissed concerns raised by opposition figures about Nigeria drifting toward a one-party system, noting that the country still has about 19 registered political parties, although not all are active or competitive.
Basiru stressed that the APC is operating within the framework of Nigerian law and has a responsibility to ensure institutions uphold constitutional provisions.
“We are asking INEC to deregister the ADC because we don’t want ballot papers filled with parties that lack electoral relevance,” he said.
He explained that the Nigerian Constitution provides clear conditions under which political parties can be deregistered, particularly if they fail to meet required electoral performance benchmarks.
According to him, the APC’s position is based on ensuring compliance with these legal standards and maintaining a streamlined electoral process.
Basiru also noted that there are ongoing legal cases supporting calls for the deregistration of underperforming parties, urging INEC to exercise its authority accordingly.
He further criticised the ADC and its allies, describing them as more focused on rhetoric than meaningful political engagement, and referred to them as a “coalition of confusion.”