The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected criticism from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over a recent comment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu describing democracy as a “game,” saying the opposition party deliberately misrepresented the statement.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC said the president’s remark was intended as a metaphor reflecting the competitive nature of democratic politics, not a dismissal of democratic principles as suggested by the ADC.
The party explained that democratic systems worldwide operate through defined rules, strategy, participation, and political competition, adding that the president’s comment simply emphasized the need for political actors to organize and compete within established democratic frameworks.
According to the APC, the ADC’s reaction was an attempt to sensationalize the issue rather than engage in meaningful political dialogue. The party described the criticism as a distortion aimed at drawing public attention.
The Lagos APC also accused some ADC leaders of trying to gain political relevance through social media appearances and staged public activities, arguing that such gestures do not represent credible leadership or genuine grassroots engagement.
It maintained that Nigerians are politically conscious and able to distinguish between serious political engagement and what it described as theatrics designed to attract online attention.
Defending the president’s democratic credentials, the APC said Tinubu has played a notable role in Nigeria’s democratic development and has consistently advocated political pluralism and institutional growth.
The party added that it was ironic for a party with limited electoral influence to criticize a leader whose political career has significantly shaped Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The APC urged the ADC to concentrate on building its political structures and presenting practical alternatives to voters rather than creating controversy.
Reaffirming its stance, the party said it remains committed to democratic competition, the rule of law, and respect for the will of the people, which it said continue to guide the leadership of President Tinubu.
The statement added:
“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.”
