The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, has dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress that the APC is pushing Nigeria towards a one party state, insisting that the governing party is actively strengthening democratic practice across the country.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Friday, Morka said “The All Progressives Congress is very busy doing exactly what a political party is expected to do in a democracy. We’re not doing anything that is unusual, that should be of concern to any Nigerian.”
He maintained that the APC’s conduct has remained consistent with democratic norms, adding that “We do nothing untoward when it comes to democratic consolidation. As a matter of fact, we are doing more than is expected of a political party to deepen democracy.”
Responding to allegations from opposition spokespersons, Morka emphasised that the party operates transparently and welcomes political participation from all Nigerians. “Now, we keep our doors open because that’s what a democracy is all about. The freedom of choice of citizens to enter and exit from a political association like the APC, and for that matter, like the ADC and the PDP,” he said.
He criticised the opposition parties for failing to address internal crises, arguing that their instability is the primary reason for the exit of their members. According to him, “You all on this panel, you got it right when you stressed to them that the problem really is internal to them. It is their own failure to govern themselves effectively that’s creating the atmosphere and the panic for their members to exit their party.”
Morka described political parties as functional vehicles for political competition, stressing that a party loses relevance when it fails to offer a viable platform for ambition. “A political party is a vehicle… When that platform, that vehicle becomes immobile or inoperable… then it ceases to be the party properly so called. And I think that’s the problem they’re dealing with.”
He also faulted the focus of opposition spokespersons who, he said, appear more concerned about criticising the APC than presenting constructive alternatives. “What shocks me is that… they spent all of the time afforded to him talking about the APC rather than focus on the ADC… They’re too obsessed about the APC and we’re not concerned about that,” Morka asserted.
Pressed further on whether he acknowledged claims that the APC represents a threat to democracy, Morka insisted the reverse is true. “To say that, quite to the contrary, the APC is deepening democracy in Nigeria by demonstrating purpose, demonstrating… the idea of internal governance.”
He said the party remains committed to resolving its internal disputes through established mechanisms, noting that “If you take everything that’s going on in the political party, you’ll find that we have methods to deal with… all of the challenges that we face.”
Morka concluded that the opposition should address its own organisational failures rather than blaming the governing party. “We face our challenges, but we trigger our own mature internal processes to deal with them. And that’s what the opposition is lacking. But rather than correct that, they rather blame us for their own… self inflicted injury,” he said.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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