The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has asserted that the lingering turmoil within certain opposition political parties in the nation is being orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to maintain its hold on power beyond 2027.
Ajuji Ahmed, the National Chairman of the NNPP, made this statement during the campaign launch for the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, in Akure on Thursday.
It is worth noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party and the NNPP have all been battling leadership crises since the conclusion of the 2023 general election.
Just recently, there were a series of suspensions within the PDP leadership. Though governors elected on the party’s platform and some significant stakeholders have ‘resolved’ the crisis and called for a status quo ahead of the party’s next convention.
Speaking on Akure on Thursday, Ahmed accused the APC of meddling in the internal matters of opposition parties, fostering divisions among their members to undermine their organizational integrity and seize control.
He noted that this situation arises as opposition leaders are planning discussions regarding a potential merger aimed at displacing the ruling party in the upcoming general elections.
“The APC is doing everything it can in order to win the 2027 general election. Certainly, there is evidence everywhere that they are interfering in other party.
“But it is left to the other political party to maintain their integrity and ensure they remain one and viable opposition to the APC before and after the 2027 election,” the NNPP chairman said.
He declared that the ruling APC should be prepared to hand over power after President Bola Tinubu’s government, stressing that the NNPP is in collaboration with opposition parties to form an alliance ahead of the 2027 poll.
“So, we have our doors open in such a way that if there is going to be a coalition of all the political parties to go into the election, we are ready for that,” the NNPP chairman added.
He expressed confidence that the NNPP is poised to secure victory in Ondo, urging the citizens to come out in large numbers to support Edema in the upcoming election.
He characterized Edema as a dedicated party member whose initiatives and policies are designed to alleviate the economic challenges and hardships currently faced by the state’s residents due to the APC government.
During his address at the campaign event, Edema called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a fair and equitable environment for all political parties participating in the election.
The NNPP’s gubernatorial candidate also emphasized the party’s readiness to make a significant impact in the upcoming election, cautioning the electoral commission against repeating the alleged electoral misconduct witnessed in Edo state.
“The last one was what happened in Edo state with the fraud. How they went to all the collation centres and manipulated the results of the election that were sent from the polling units was worrisome.
“They took the result from collation centres to INEC headquarters, which is contrary agianst electoral act which states that you should do your couting at the venue where the election was conduct.
“Therefore, we are saying Ondo state is not Edo state. Ondo is not Lagos state. The people of Ondo are one of the most enlightened in the whole country, and we are capable of protecting our votes, and we will protect it. We do not fare them. We will dare them,” he said.
