2027: Heaven won’t fall if you fail to appear on the ballot, APC dares ADC, PDP, others 

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Nigeria’s democratic system would remain intact even if the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), or any other political party fails to appear on the ballot in future elections due to non-compliance with electoral regulations.

The party made the remark in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, while reacting to concerns raised by a faction of the ADC over alleged moves that could hinder its participation in upcoming polls.

Oladejo said adherence to electoral laws and institutional procedures must guide the democratic process, stressing that political parties cannot rely on sentiment or public pressure to bypass established rules.

“Democracy is governed by laws and institutional procedures – not by sentiment, entitlement, or alarmist propaganda,” the statement said.

According to the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) operates within the framework of the law, and all political parties are expected to comply fully with its guidelines.

“Compliance with electoral requirements is mandatory. Any party that fails to meet the stipulated conditions must accept the consequences of its actions,” the party said.

The Lagos APC noted that its position was informed by past experiences in which the ruling party itself faced similar electoral setbacks.

It cited the 2019 general elections, when the APC was barred from fielding candidates in Zamfara and Rivers states following legal and procedural challenges.

The party said the episode demonstrated that no political organisation is above the law and that the application of electoral rules should not be viewed as targeting any particular party.

The statement also criticised what it described as attempts by opposition parties to blame external forces for their internal challenges.

“It is disingenuous for a faction-ridden opposition party to externalise blame and attempt to cast the ruling party as a scapegoat for what are clearly self-inflicted wounds,” Oladejo said.

The APC maintained that the leadership crisis and organisational issues within the ADC had weakened the party’s credibility and contributed to its current difficulties.

“The electoral process is bigger than any single political party. Heaven will not fall if the ADC, the PDP or any other party fails to appear on the ballot because of its own non-compliance,” the statement added.

The ruling party urged political actors to focus on resolving internal disputes and meeting electoral requirements rather than engaging in public accusations.

It also reiterated its commitment to credible elections and called on stakeholders to uphold democratic norms and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.