The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the recent statement by the newly appointed National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who declared that there would be “no vacancy in Aso Rock” in 2027.

In a press statement released on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the remark as “presumptuous and undemocratic,” warning that the Presidency is not a birthright or a permanent seat for any party, but a mandate that must be earned through performance and renewed by the people’s votes.

Abdullahi said, “The APC chairman’s recent declaration of ‘no vacancy in Aso Rock’ is disrespectful to Nigerians who are daily grappling with hunger, insecurity, joblessness, and unfulfilled promises. It is an insult to the very idea of democracy and a clear sign that the ruling party fears a fair contest.”

He further stated that “regardless of what the APC may believe, there will be a vacancy in 2027,” emphasising that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would need to seek a fresh mandate from the Nigerian people, based on his performance over the previous four years.

“The very fact of periodic elections means that every incumbent must renew his mandate. In 2027, APC and President Tinubu will be evaluated based on key performance indicators such as youth employment, food security, national safety, electricity supply, and justice,” he said.

The ADC spokesperson criticised what it described as the APC’s “self-congratulatory propaganda,” arguing that the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture.

“While the APC continues to celebrate itself, the cost of food has skyrocketed, insecurity remains rampant, and the naira is in tatters. To declare ‘no vacancy’ is to mock the daily struggles of millions of Nigerians — the mothers who cannot feed their children, the graduates who cannot find work, and the business owners forced to shut down through no fault of their own,” he said.

Abdullahi asserted that no political party has the right to foreclose the outcome of future elections.

“Let it be known that the APC will have to reapply for the job of leading this country in 2027. And unlike before, they will not be allowed to mark their scripts. The Nigerian people will decide — not party chairmen,” he stated.