President Bola Tinubu is unhappy with the disorganised state of Nigeria’s opposition parties and wishes for a stronger, more unified opposition, according to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Speaking on Tinubu’s behalf at the inauguration of the Arterial Road N20 Interchange Bridges in Abuja on Wednesday, Akpabio said the president remains committed to democratic values and believes a vibrant opposition is essential for the country’s political health.
“President Bola Tinubu GCFR is very interested in seeing a vibrant opposition. It saddens him when he sees the way the opposition is in disarray,” Akpabio told attendees at the event. He noted that internal divisions are plaguing not just the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but also the Labour Party, both of which are struggling to maintain unity and direction.
Akpabio added that shortly before the event, he received a letter from the Labour Party, further confirming its internal challenges. “So it’s not only PDP that’s in disarray; even the Labour Party is cracked, and people who are strong members of the Labour Party are angling to run Nigeria when they cannot put a small political party like that in order,” he said.
He also announced the defection of Senator Neda Imasuen from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he personally handled the formalities at the Senate earlier in the day. “Senator Neda Imasuen just decamped this afternoon from the Labour Party and moved from the left-hand side of the Senate to the right-hand side, so that took my time. I had to do that ritual. I’m not tired. I’m happy to receive them because our doors are open in the All Progressives Congress,” Akpabio said.
Despite welcoming defectors, Akpabio reiterated Tinubu’s desire for a strong opposition, describing it as a critical element of democracy.
This echoes Tinubu’s recent Democracy Day remarks at the National Assembly, where he mocked the opposition’s internal crises but stated he would not help them resolve their issues.
