APC’s Ussiju Medaner Says Opposition is “Just Making Noise,” Lacks Strategy to Win Elections
Former National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ussiju Medaner, has criticised Nigeria’s opposition parties for lacking the depth and discipline needed to win elections. In a live interview on Arise News, Medaner dismissed their efforts as noise-making without substance, arguing that their activities are more about optics than strategic planning or grassroots mobilisation.
According to Medaner, elections are not won by public commentary or social media presence, but by deliberate thinking, planning, and execution. He pointed to the APC’s own performance during the 2023 general elections as evidence of what real preparation looks like. Medaner revealed that the party trained 120,000 polling unit agents across the country using a structured manual, a level of organisation he claimed far exceeded what any opposition party was able to achieve. In fact, he asserted that many of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff relied on APC agents for direction at the polling units, further highlighting the ruling party’s preparedness.
In defending the APC’s political machinery, Medaner drew a comparison to electoral practices in advanced democracies, particularly the United States. He cited the example of former U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that successful campaigns are those that build strong internal structures, not those that rely on public excitement or noisy advocacy. He added that most of those creating the loudest opposition in Nigeria today are not even registered voters, describing them as “online voters” who do not translate digital activism into electoral victory.
The APC chieftain’s comments come amid rising conversations around the need for a stronger, more unified opposition in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections. While opposition parties like the Labour Party and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have made significant inroads, especially with youth engagement and online support, critics argue that their efforts lack the kind of grassroots structure and electoral discipline necessary to mount a serious challenge to the ruling party.
Medaner’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment within the APC that organisational strength, rather than popularity or noise, is the key to electoral success. His message to the opposition was clear: unless they move beyond social media rhetoric and build real strategy and ground support, they will continue to fall short at the ballot box.
