There is a strange mix of theater and genuine frustration in Lagos politics right now. The national chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) responded this week to a claim by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that President Bola Tinubu’s APC is trying to silence the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections. The APC’s tone was part dismissive, part annoyed – and, if you ask me, a little gleeful. They characterized the ADC’s complaint as more interesting than serious, then went on to argue that the ADC simply no longer had a hearing.
I must admit: APC spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, wasted no time. His message was direct: Tinubu cannot silence a party that Nigerians have already ignored. This line lands because it is both a nudge and a statement of confidence: you are not silenced; you are ignored. Harsh? Maybe. Effective? For a public that already supports Tinubu, probably.
What they said – and what it suggests
Oladejo painted a picture of two very different priorities. On the one hand, he says, APC is “reshaping Nigeria’s destiny” – building structures, tightening strategies and trying to make governance truly effective. On the other hand, the ADC is portrayed as struggling with internal problems, more concerned with expelling members than winning hearts.
There is a metaphor in his statement: the ADC is like a mosquito telling a lion to shut up. Obviously dramatic. A bit theatrical. But the underlying point is simple: If a group has no real base, it can make noise, issue press releases, briefly trend online, and then disappear. This is a common pattern in politics around the world – and it is not unique to Nigeria. Parties sometimes live more in the headlines than in the neighborhoods.
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The accusation of being “irrelevant”
Oladejo did not just mock. He accused the ADC of living mainly in “newspaper pages and WhatsApp groups” – and of preparing excuses for future losses rather than tackling its internal weaknesses. This is the sentence that stings: claiming that the ADC’s complaints about persecution are just preemptive excuses for electoral failure.
There is truth to the idea that blaming external forces instead of fixing internal flaws is rarely helpful. If you don’t have core networks, clear messaging, or internal unity, a press release won’t replace that. But let’s not pretend this is one-sided. Oppositions often feel marginalized in many democracies; sometimes this feeling is real, sometimes exaggerated. The reality here may be mixed – part perception, part political theater.
A little posturing, a little politics
You can read Oladejo’s remarks as an attempt to build confidence among APC supporters – to tell voters: we are focused on results, not distractions. He repeats the “Agenda of Renewed Hope” line and portrays the APC as too busy solving national problems to worry about “professional plaintiffs.” It is both a political posture and a message. This aims to reassure the base, but also to define the ADC as comical or unserious.
This approach works with people who already agree. But it’s a risky way to engage a wider audience. Mocking opponents can come off as strong, or it can come across as defensive. It depends on the general political climate and whether the government’s promises and plans bring real improvements to citizens in their daily lives. When people feel the results, rhetoric like Oladejo’s is more plausible. When they don’t, it can come across as tone-deaf.
Some inconsistencies – because politics is complicated
I have noticed a strange twist: the APC claims to focus on unity and results, while much of the message is to tear down the ADC. It’s a familiar inconsistency. On the one hand, “we will not be distracted”; on the other, “look how stupid they are”. This is human politics: we tell ourselves that we are above slander, and then we still throw a few stones. I don’t mean this as a criticism of APC only. This is how parties behave when they feel threatened or when they want to control the narrative.
The ADC, for its part, will argue that it raises legitimate concerns about opposition space. It is difficult to judge from the outside whether this is a tactical posture or a serious concern. What is clearer is that small parties struggle to remain visible between major electoral cycles. The CDA’s frequent reporting strategy may look like activity, but activity without organization rarely results in votes.
Why it matters beyond insults
Ultimately, this exchange is about political legitimacy and effectiveness. Some say: we govern, we build structures, we obtain results. The other camp insists that it is excluded from the democratic space. If the APC’s claims are correct and the ADC is truly hollow, then the opposition would do well to reorganize – organize locally, make real connections, and stop recycling the same arguments. If the ADC’s concerns are partly true, then critics of the APC should pay attention to how political space is managed and whether dissenting voices can actually be heard.
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What I take away – and you might too
I find the whole episode both amusing and slightly disturbing. Funny because political jokes often are; worrying because democracy needs a real opposition to control power. It’s too easy to shrug your shoulders and say “they’re irrelevant”, but this can be dangerous if it leads to complacency on the part of those in power. At the same time, accusations of persecution sometimes serve as a shield when a party lacks grassroots support.
So who is right? Maybe both, to some extent. Politics is not cool. The ADC may be in trouble, and the APC may be right to denounce it. But dismissing an opponent outright also risks missing real concerns about the political space. In short: pay more attention to actions than noise. See if the promises come true. Listen to voters, not just press releases.