2 hours ago
1
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has criticised the African Democratic Congress, ADC, over its reaction to a remark by President Bola Tinubu describing democracy as a “game.”
In a statement issued by Lagos APC spokesman Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the party accused the ADC of deliberately misinterpreting what it described as a simple metaphor highlighting the competitive nature of democratic politics.
According to the APC, democratic systems around the world operate through rules, strategy, participation and healthy political rivalry, adding that referring to democracy as a “game” only reflects the need for political actors to organise, mobilise supporters and compete within established democratic frameworks.
The party, however, said it was “surprising and amusing” that the ADC chose to twist the comment rather than engage in meaningful political debate.
It accused the opposition party of resorting to sensationalism and distortion instead of offering constructive contributions to national discourse.
The Lagos APC also criticised what it described as publicity stunts by some ADC leaders, claiming that attempts to gain attention through social media displays do not amount to genuine grassroots engagement or credible political leadership.
According to the statement, such performances may attract temporary online attention but cannot replace meaningful political organisation or effective leadership.
The APC further noted that Nigerians are politically aware and cannot be misled by what it called “poorly scripted theatrics.”
Defending the president, the party said Nigerians are well aware of Tinubu’s democratic credentials, noting that he has played a significant role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle and in promoting political pluralism and institutional development.
It said it was ironic for a party it described as having little electoral influence to attempt to lecture a political figure whose career has helped shape Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The Lagos APC urged the ADC to focus on strengthening its political structures and presenting credible alternatives to voters instead of creating unnecessary controversies.
The party reiterated its commitment to democratic competition, the rule of law and respect for the will of the people, which it said remain central to the leadership of President Tinubu.
The statement reads partly: “It is both surprising and amusing that the ADC has chosen to deliberately misinterpret what was clearly a metaphor describing the competitive nature of democratic politics.
“Across the world, democracy functions through rules, strategy, participation, and healthy political competition. In that context, describing democracy as a “game” simply underscores the need for political actors to organize, mobilize, and compete within established democratic rules.
“Unfortunately, rather than engage in meaningful political discourse, the ADC has opted for sensationalism and distortion-an approach that appears to have become its most visible political strategy.
“Indeed, we must commend the leadership of the ADC for their occasional comic relief, as they continue to maintain their unenviable status as one of the jokes of our democratic process.
“Nigerians watch with amusement the creative theatrics of some of their leaders who, in their desperate bid to manufacture relevance, spend time in the social media space staging photo opportunities-pricing groundnuts by the roadside or buying roasted corn-in a contrived attempt to appear connected to the masses.
“Such poorly scripted performances may generate momentary online attention, but they hardly substitute for credible leadership, genuine grassroots engagement, or meaningful political organization. Nigerians are politically discerning, and no one is deceived by such theatrics.”
APC knocks ADC for ‘misinterpreting’ Tinubu’s “democracy is a game” remark
