Politics
BREAKING: LP Joins APC To Bomb Atiku
The ongoing feud among political leaders in Nigeria has seen the Labour Party join forces with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to tackle former Vice President, Atiku Ababakar.
The political dust was raised by allegations of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria’s 2023 election, Abubakar when he accused the ruling APC of distabilising the opposition of doling out as much as N50 million in cash inducements to weaken the opposition.
The APC in a statement on Tuesday, had vehemently denied these allegations, claiming the crisis rocking the PDP was borne out of Atiku’s personal ambition. The LP in taking sides with the APC in its own statement on Wednesday challenged Atiku to provide proof of his allegations.
This LP’s position was contained in a statement on Wednesday, in Abuja under the signature of its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh.
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The LP strongly denied any form of external funding, including from its elected members.
Issued under the subject, ‘N50M bribe: Labour Party not under payroll of APC government, challenges Atiku to provide proof’, the LP challenged Atiku “to provide concrete evidence to substantiate his allegations without which Nigerians will be forced to take every other of his statements with a pinch of salt and politically motivated.”
The statement reads, “The Labour Party has said that its leadership is not aware of any bribe alleged to have been paid to the leadership of opposition parties in Nigeria by the All Progressives Congress led government. The party also said its leadership has never received a dime from any individual, group, organisation or government who are not members of the Labour Party.
“The party has however expressed shock and disbelief by the revelation from one of the leading political figures and former vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that it would be improper for the politician to throw a shade at the entire opposition without also putting forward a tangible proof other than a ‘gossip’ from an unnamed source.
“The former vice President while speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy held in Abuja accused the ruling APC of allegedly offering opposition party leaders N50 million each to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
“We are shocked that a high caliber politician who has contested election all his life and often regarded as a very experienced politician could make such a wild, unguarded and unfounded statement.
“For us in the Labour Party, a party which has remained the strongest and most veritable opposition and which speaks truth to power; a party that led the most serious campaign in the 2023 general election and has been steadfast and has remained the voice of the people, we view that statement as demeaning, ignominious, reckless and a let down from someone like Atiku Abubakar.
“We want to put it on record that the Labour Party has ran a frugal administration from funds internally generated, having not received supports from our elected representatives. And in spite of the challenges the party has face(d) in the recent past, the leadership of the party has remained solid and committed to the ideals of the party.
“The leadership has not received any salary from anybody. Salaries are not hidden and it is not difficult to verify who and who are on the government payroll. It is a public document and it can be verified. We therefore advise Atiku to be circumspect and careful in generalizing certain allegations. We expect him to speak for himself and his party.
“The opposition is the oxygen of any virile democracy, because it helps put the government in power in proper checks while also ensuring inclusivity in democratic participation. Democracy without opposition is an autocracy and it takes a lot of sacrifices to sustain opposition. It is therefore frustrating and unpatriotic when leaders who ought to know better, begin to derive joy in denigrating the opposition camp and making jests of their sacrifices.
“We are therefore calling on Atiku Abubakar to provide concrete evidence to substantiate his allegations without which Nigerians will be forced to take every other of his statements with a pinch of salt and politically motivated.”
The judge to whom the suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was assigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja has stepped down from the matter.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu made the disclosure on Tuesday, in Abuja, explaining that his decision was informed by a petition questioning his impartiality, which was submitted by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The matter had been scheduled for hearing, however, when the court clerk called it up, the judge held that he was stepping aside.
He said he would return the case file to the Chief Judge, who would assign it to another judge.
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Recall that on March 4, 2025 Justice Egwuatu issued an interim order stopping the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The embattled senator was accused of violating the Senate’s rules.
The judge ruled that the disciplinary process should be stood down, until the case was decided.
He also gave the defendants 72 hours to explain why the court should not stop them from investigating the senator without following the rules laid out in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
In addition, Justice Egwuatu allowed the senator to serve legal documents on the defendants using substituted means.
The court ordered that the documents be given to the Clerk of the National Assembly or pasted at the National Assembly premises.
They were also to be published in two national newspapers.
The interim order came after the senator filed an urgent application.
However, despite the court’s ruling, the Senate Committee still held its meeting and suspended her for six months.
Later, after the defendants applied, Justice Egwuatu amended his earlier order.
He removed the part that prevented the Senate from taking any action while the case was ongoing.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, questioned the court’s authority to interfere in Senate affairs.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that decisive action was necessary to prevent further deterioration of the crisis.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, stressed that no responsible government would sit back and allow instability to escalate unchecked.
“President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria. The information available to him as president from intelligence sources may not be in public purview,” Major said.
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He added that the decision to suspend the state government was based on the severity of the crisis, which could have worsened without swift intervention.
“The government in Rivers was suspended, and no one can actually say what would have happened by now, judging from the deepening crisis.
“The crisis was further compounded by some leaders who, instead of offering advice or promoting peace during the turmoil, allowed it to escalate before later stepping in to criticize,” he stated.
Major described the security situation in Rivers State as unacceptable, warning that it posed a threat to lives and property.
He defended President Tinubu’s leadership style, noting that making tough decisions, even when unpopular, was a mark of true governance.
“It was a difficult decision to remove the oil subsidy; one that no previous administration was willing to make, whether right or wrong. Tinubu took that step, and we are gradually emerging from the crisis, moving forward for the better,” he explained.
According to him, the government must have had access to intelligence beyond what was available in the public domain before making its decision.
“Six months or less of the emergency rule is in the interest of Rivers residents, democracy, and Nigeria. It is our hope that indigenes of the state shall be streetwise and disregard those with personal interests, who are crying foul,” Major added.
The NNPP chairman urged Nigerian leaders to be mindful of their statements, warning that inflammatory remarks could worsen tensions in Rivers State and affect national stability.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda for a greater Nigeria should be our focus. It is centered on hard work, trust, science and technology, agriculture, education, the rule of law, and more. Focus should be on constructive criticism that will make for greater performance,” he advised.
Addressing concerns about Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s involvement in Rivers politics, Major argued that Wike, as a former governor and indigene, naturally has interests in the state.
“Wike as a minister is neither the Inspector General of Police, Chairman of EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Judge of the Federation, nor President of Nigeria. If our institutions are not compliant with their statutory functions, why can’t we leave Wike alone to live his life?”
He also emphasized that while opposition to government is vital for democracy, it must be constructive and aimed at fostering good governance.
“Opposition to the government at the center is the lifeblood of democracy and a catalyst for good governance when it is constructive and aimed at enhancing productivity.
“However, if opposition simply means dismissing everything the government does as wrong, then something is definitely amiss,” Major concluded.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has expressed solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, vented this in a statement in Benin City on Thursday night, asserting that his principal was not consulted by his colleagues in the South-South Governors’ Forum before going public with their view.
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Itua wrote, “The position by the Governors of the South-South, opposing the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, did not get the nod of Governor Okpebholo. Governor Okpebholo was neither consulted nor informed.
“While Governor Monday Okpebholo acknowledges the right of other Governors in the South-South geopolitical zone to take a position, he, however dissociates himself from any statement that opposes the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, understands the issues at stake.
“Governor Okpebholo supports actions so far taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that will bring lasting solutions and peace to Rivers State and the South-South geopolitical zone.”
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