The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised a recent column by Mr. Lasisi Olagunju, describing it as an exercise in exaggerated rhetoric rather than serious political analysis.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party said it received Mr. Olagunju’s commentary “with a mix of disbelief and amusement,” arguing that the piece reflected what it termed a pattern of performative outrage by elements of the opposition struggling to come to terms with their political setbacks.
According to the APC, routine protocol surrounding the reception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by ministers and senior government officials following official trips should not be misconstrued as evidence of authoritarianism or “imperial presidency.”
“It is standard practice in democracies across the world for senior officials to receive a sitting president. To frame this as idolatry or monarchical excess is a stretch that undermines the credibility of the argument,” the party stated.
The Lagos APC contended that the criticism directed at President Tinubu is less about governance and more about the inability of opposition forces to offer viable political alternatives, noting that electoral defeat should not be relitigated through opinion columns.
The party further rejected claims that Nigeria’s legislature and judiciary have been compromised, describing such assertions as unfair to democratic institutions and professionals who serve within them.
“Disagreement with political outcomes does not amount to institutional failure. Democracy does not guarantee that every commentator’s preferred position will prevail,” the statement read.
Highlighting President Tinubu’s political history, the APC described him as a long-standing advocate of democratic ideals, decentralisation of power and institutional strengthening, citing Lagos State’s governance record as evidence of sustained democratic practice, competitive elections and judicial independence over the past two decades.
The party accused Mr. Olagunju of selective criticism, questioning the absence of similar commentary during past administrations when, it said, more overt acts of executive overreach allegedly occurred.
On governance, the APC maintained that the Tinubu administration has made measurable progress in stabilising the economy and pursuing necessary reforms, insisting that public respect earned through leadership performance should not be mischaracterised as personality cultism.
“The Nigerian electorate exercised its democratic right in choosing President Tinubu through a competitive process that has been affirmed by the courts. To belittle that mandate is to undermine the very foundation of democracy,” the party added.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the Lagos APC stated that political power would continue to be determined by voters rather than media commentary, urging opposition parties to focus on building credible structures and policies rather than relying on what it described as “shrill rhetoric and theatrical despair.”
The statement concluded by reaffirming the party’s commitment to governance, service delivery and democratic consolidation, stressing that it would remain undistracted by what it termed “the noise of a frustrated opposition.”
The statement was signed by the Lagos APC Spokesman, Mogaji (Hon.) Seye Oladejo, and dated February 4, 2026.
