The Labour Party has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) offered opposition leaders N50 million to undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, the party described Atiku’s remarks as “reckless, improper, and unfounded.” Atiku, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, claimed on Monday at a national conference in Abuja, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s government of attempting to weaken democratic processes.
The Labour Party’s response highlights growing tensions among opposition parties and raises questions about the credibility of such allegations in Nigeria’s political landscape.
At the conference which was aimed at strengthening democracy in the country, Atiku cautioned that Nigeria’s democracy was at risk of collapse if urgent action wasn’t taken.
Atiku said, “I want to say it here publicly. I met with a political party leadership in the present opposition, and they told me flatly that this government gives them N50 million each.
“If we are not careful, we are talking to some of you here, but you are recipients of the N50 million from the APC government. Do we want to fight for democracy?”
Atiku lamented the erosion of democratic values, criticizing the current National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” for the government and raising doubts about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.
He cited an example from Turkey, where the electoral body refused to declare a president-elect who fell short of the required vote threshold, as a benchmark of integrity Nigeria should emulate.