The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the democratic credentials of former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, accusing them of lacking historical commitment to Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle.
In a statement titled “Democracy Without Sacrifice: The Myth of Obi and Atiku”, the party said democracy is sustained by sacrifice, consistency, respect for institutions and fidelity to the will of the people, not by what it described as selective outrage or convenience-driven politics.
The APC said a review of Nigeria’s democratic history showed that neither Obi nor Atiku played any significant role in the struggle against military rule, arguing that both were absent during the period when activists faced detention, exile and intimidation in defence of democratic ideals.
“They made no sacrifices, bore no scars and took no risks in defence of democracy. Yet today, they seek to appropriate the moral capital earned by braver patriots,” the statement said.
The party questioned Obi’s political trajectory, describing his movement across political parties as evidence of opportunism rather than ideological conviction. It argued that democracy requires patience, loyalty to institutions and maturity, rather than protest driven by personal disappointment over electoral outcomes.
On Atiku, the APC said his long history of party defections in pursuit of the presidency reflected ambition without ideological anchorage. It described as ironic his recent portrayal of himself as a victim of a system the party claimed he had helped to shape over the years.
The Lagos APC also criticised emerging opposition coalitions involving the two politicians, describing them as alliances built on resentment over electoral outcomes rather than shared vision or ideology.
“Alliances forged by bitterness and desperation are not democratic alternatives; they are temporary shelters for unfulfilled ambition,” the statement said.
The party maintained that democracy is defined not by protests after elections but by responsible conduct before, during and after the process, including respect for the rule of law and constructive opposition.
It urged Nigerians to assess political actors by their commitment to democratic institutions and acceptance of electoral outcomes, rather than rhetoric.
The APC concluded by challenging Obi and Atiku to present verifiable records of their democratic credentials to the public, “devoid of fairytales”.
