Over the weekend, the Labour Party criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of trying to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. According to the Labour Party, the APC is allegedly working to undermine opposition parties by buying them out and silencing anyone who disagrees with them.
Marcel Ngogbehei, the Director-General of Mobilization and Integration for the Labour Party, released a statement on Sunday. He claimed that the APC is making efforts to weaken major opposition parties, particularly in the Northern and Eastern regions of Nigeria. Ngogbehei suggested that the APC has already made significant progress in these areas, which could significantly influence the upcoming 2027 general election.
Ngogbehei further alleged that the APC’s ultimate aim is to make President Bola Tinubu the preferred presidential candidate for all opposition parties. This strategy, according to Ngogbehei, is part of a broader plan to consolidate power and ensure that Tinubu is the consensus candidate in the 2027 elections.
The Labour Party also accused the APC of intentionally creating crises within opposition parties. These crises, they argue, are being used as a tactic to either take control of these parties or attract their members to the APC. By doing this, the APC is supposedly trying to weaken the opposition and strengthen its own position.
“The APC, along with Tinubu, is making deliberate efforts to transform Nigeria into a one-party system,” the Labour Party said in their statement. “They are actively working to buy up political parties in the North and East, aiming to diminish the opposition’s strength as we approach the 2027 general elections. Tinubu seems to be trying to repeat what Abacha did by pressuring parties to choose him as a consensus candidate or to field a candidate who won’t effectively challenge him.”
Additionally, the Labour Party accused the APC of exploiting economic hardships to secure votes. They claimed that the APC is using hunger as a tool to persuade poor Nigerians to vote for them in 2027. According to the Labour Party, this involves bribing voters with small amounts of rice, beans, and money.
The Labour Party warned Nigerians to be cautious and to stand firm against what they see as APC’s manipulative tactics. They believe that instead of focusing on improving governance and addressing the needs of the people, the APC is preoccupied with undermining opposition parties and buying off party members.
This, the Labour Party argues, is part of a strategy to promote an unappealing candidate in 2027.
“The APC has been successful in making many Nigerians poorer,” the Labour Party said. “This has made it easier for them to bribe people with small amounts of food and cash in exchange for their votes. This approach suggests that the APC is not prepared for a fair election and is instead resorting to dishonest tactics to win.”
The Labour Party expressed strong confidence in their leadership, specifically highlighting Barr. Julius Abure and Peter Obi. They urged all supporters who genuinely want a prosperous and functional Nigeria to join them in resisting the APC’s alleged schemes.
