A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ladan Salihu, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Bola Tinubu would be unable to withstand the anger and frustration of Nigerians at the 2027 general elections.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Salihu made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, stating that the APC government will also fail the integrity and credibility test at the polls.
He said, “When it comes to credible elections and elections that are based on integrity, this government will fail the integrity and credibility test at the polls.
“This government will not measure up with the anger and the frustrations of the Nigerian people.”
The ADC chieftain reiterated the party’s call for the resignation or removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over alleged bias, an accusation the electoral body has denied, insisting on the chairman’s neutrality.
Salihu insisted that Amupitan has lost the confidence not only of the opposition but also of ordinary Nigerians who believe the country should move forward.
He stated, “Amupitan should resign or should be removed because in public service today, Amupitan to me is the number one persona non grata because he has failed the integrity test, he has failed the competency test, he has not presented himself as that impartial, credible umpire that can give Nigeria, a nation of 250 million people, an election to celebrate.
“Because by his actions, his utterances and the way he conducts government business, he scandalises every person that has integrity in Nigeria.”
Salihu said the ADC would boycott the election if Amupitan conducts it, stressing, “The election is our own constitutional responsibility as the leading opposition movement. When we get to that stage, we will make a decision about it.”
He added that if Amupitan refuses to resign or is not removed, the opposition will intensify its campaign to remove him before the election.
While expressing confidence that the ADC would emerge victorious in the 2027 election, Salihu claimed that the APC is afraid of the opposition despite controlling 31 states and holding a majority in the National Assembly.
He added, “When the 2023 elections were held, we had 23 governors that the APC won. They had to intimidate, harass and coerce other governors. Now they are 31, and they are still afraid. They have 31 governors, they have control of the Senate and the House, but they don’t have control of the people.”