The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using allegations against opposition parties to distract Nigerians from the economic hardship, unemployment and insecurity under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The ADC was reacting to a statement by the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which alleged that the opposition party had failed to pay its staff for more than 12 months and urged Nigerians to reject its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other ADC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
The APC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, on Monday, described the alleged failure to pay party workers as evidence of what it called the insincerity of the ADC’s promises to Nigerians.
It argued that a party unable to manage its workforce and meet its obligations to staff could not be trusted with the responsibility of governing the country.
However, the ADC dismissed the allegations as an “irresponsible falsehood”, accusing the ruling party of manufacturing claims to divert attention from the performance of the Tinubu administration.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party challenged the APC to provide evidence to substantiate its claims.
“The ADC categorically rejects this allegation as an irresponsible falsehood, deliberately concocted to mislead Nigerians and distract attention from the monumental failures of the Tinubu administration.
“If the APC has any credible evidence to support its claims, it should produce it rather than continue to insult Nigerians with fabricated stories masquerading as press statements,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that the ruling party should focus on addressing the difficulties facing Nigerians rather than making allegations against opposition parties.
It identified the rising cost of living, unemployment among young people and insecurity as issues on which the Federal Government should be judged, insisting that political exchanges would not erase the daily experiences of Nigerians.
The opposition party also accused the APC of preparing for the 2027 elections by focusing on allegations against its opponents rather than presenting its achievements.
ADC also urged the ruling party to explain why Nigerians should support another term for the APC, citing what it described as three years of hardship, insecurity and economic uncertainty.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the APC has decided to run its 2027 campaign on allegations against the opposition rather than achievements of its own.
“The APC may control the machinery of government, but it cannot control the lived experiences of Nigerians.
“If the APC has a record to defend, let it defend it. If it has solutions, let it present them. But it should stop insulting the intelligence of Nigerians with these increasingly desperate distractions,” Abdullahi stated further.
