The African Democratic Congress has rejected claims by the All Progressives Congress that some of its candidates from Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara states have defected to the ruling party.

The ADC described the individuals recently presented by the APC as alleged defectors as persons who neither held recognised positions in the opposition party nor represented it as candidates.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the APC of falsely associating its name and identities with individuals who, according to the party, were neither its candidates nor leaders.

“These people are not our candidates,” the party said.

The ADC challenged the APC to identify the positions allegedly held by the individuals in the party, the constituencies they represented and when they occupied such positions.

“The APC should tell Nigerians which ADC positions these individuals held, the constituencies they represented and when they occupied those positions,” Abdullahi said.

The opposition party also faulted the manner in which the APC announced the alleged defections, arguing that while the ruling party was free to receive anyone at its secretariat, it could not present such persons to Nigerians as ADC candidates without evidence.

“The APC cannot assemble random individuals at its secretariat, confer imaginary ADC credentials on them and then announce their defection,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC further rejected the APC’s explanation that the alleged defectors were drawn to the ruling party because of what it described as the administration’s transformation of Northern Nigeria.

The opposition party questioned the claim against the backdrop of rising food prices, insecurity and increasing pressure on household incomes.

According to the ADC, Nigerians were more concerned about tangible improvements in their living conditions than political events and photographs of alleged defectors.

“Nigerians are asking for evidence of better lives; the APC is manufacturing photographs and congratulating itself,” the party said.

The ADC maintained that claims of political defections should be backed by verifiable records, insisting that the APC must establish that the individuals it presented were genuinely candidates or officials of the opposition party before describing them as defectors.