By Ben Ogbemudia
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has faulted allegations by Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, interim National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), that the ruling party is sponsoring attacks on the coalition and frontline political parties.
The ADC, on Monday, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of targeting its leaders in the North East and North West to undermine the opposition coalition formed to challenge him in the 2027 elections.
The ADC’s publicity secretary said the coalition would not stand by and watch a few desperate individuals push Nigeria toward a one-party system.
The coalition, on July 2, adopted the ADC as its political platform for the 2027 presidential and other elections.
In a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ogini Olaposi, the NNPP insisted that politicians must be careful with their utterances to avoid triggering public disorder.
The NNPP said Abdullahi should limit his unfounded allegations against the Federal Government and the APC to the ADC and not include other political parties in Nigeria, particularly the NNPP.
“Nigeria is facing so many challenges that people may likely misinterpret statements that tend to be unfriendly to the greater number of citizens.
“Ordinarily, the NNPP would not have bothered to respond to the ADC’s allegations against the ruling party, if Abdullahi had not mentioned the NNPP in one of his interviews and live appearances on national television stations.
“Abdullahi should exclude the NNPP from the unfounded assertion that the APC is sponsoring attacks on opposition parties.
“It is surprising to members of the NNPP how he came about this belief when he is not a member of our great party.”
The party noted that its internal leadership crisis was not sponsored by the APC or the President, but created by Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and his followers in an attempt to hijack the NNPP.
“Kwankwaso joining the coalition or not is not tantamount to the NNPP joining the ADC or coalition. We are not part of any coalition or the ADC. The coalition cannot speak for us whatsoever,” the party stated.
The party reiterated that, so far, it had no reason to believe that the APC is responsible for its internal leadership crisis.
“Our internal wranglings in the past, just like in other parties, were borne out of avoidable betrayal of trust by the Kwankwasiya Movement, even when the Memorandum of Understanding for the 2022 presidential election had expired.”
The NNPP further stated that it doesn’t subscribe to the word ‘opposition’ in the Nigerian context.
“The NNPP is rather a responsible partner to all sister political parties duly registered in Nigeria by the regulatory body, INEC.
“This is exactly why the Inter-Party Advisory Council is in place. ‘Opposition’ in Nigeria means that nothing is good about a sitting government. This is very sad and regrettable.
“It is our opinion and advice that we should all use our time to work for each of our political parties.
“Indeed, Mr. President has told every politician who cares to listen that the doors of the APC are open to all willing Nigerians.
“And yet, people cannot understand that Tinubu is simply urging Nigerians to work harder to actualize the concept of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“What is wrong with politicians is their inability to take advantage of their constitution to resolve internal matters.
“In Nigeria today, it is obvious that some legal luminaries are smiling home financially, arising from unconstitutional acts and disrespect for the rule of law in the various political parties and leaderships,” the party stated.
It added that even when the courts push back to encourage politicians to use internal conflict resolution mechanisms, the politicians keep rushing to court.