The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused opposition leaders of wrecking their own parties through what it described as selfish ambitions, poor leadership and disregard for internal rules, insisting that their current challenges are self-inflicted.
In a press statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party said recent remarks by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had also raised concerns over public safety and political conduct.
The party alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) collapsed under the weight of internal disputes linked to its 2023 presidential primary. It said, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was destroyed by Atiku Abubakar’s ruthless confiscation of the PDP’s 2023 presidential ticket in violation of the party’s constitutionally entrenched rotational zoning formula.”
The APC also took aim at the Labour Party, attributing its instability to the actions of its presidential candidate in the last election. “The Labour Party (LP) was effectively subverted by the restless nomadic disposition of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, permanently swinging from one party to another in search of a free and uncontested presidential ticket,” the statement said.
On the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party claimed the platform failed to gain traction due to internal takeover struggles. It stated, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC), so-called coalition platform, was basically stillborn, strangled by the reckless robbery of that party’s leadership by the same band of marauding opposition figures… They have left nothing but desolation in the opposition trail.”
The APC maintained that Nigerians would not entrust governance to parties struggling with internal cohesion, saying the opposition had failed to present any clear policy direction. It said their messaging was limited to “fear-mongering built on false narratives about the APC.”
The ruling party dismissed claims that it should assist opposition parties in resolving their crises, stressing that its focus remains on strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
It added that the country’s democratic space remains open, citing the presence of multiple registered political parties participating in the electoral process. The APC described allegations of a one-party state as baseless, linking such claims to political desperation.
On Governor Makinde’s remarks at an opposition gathering in Ibadan, the APC accused him of invoking a violent chapter in Nigeria’s history. It said his reference to “Operation Wetie” amounted to incitement and posed a threat to national stability.
The party called on security agencies to take the development seriously and warned that no public office holder should use inflammatory rhetoric capable of endangering lives.
It also noted that constitutional immunity does not shield anyone from accountability in matters affecting national security.
The APC reaffirmed its commitment to democratic governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that its administration would continue to pursue policies aimed at national unity and development.