Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that President Bola Tinubu desires a strong and vibrant opposition in Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 25 during the commissioning of the newly constructed Interchange Bridge of Arterial Road N20 (Wole Soyinka Way) over the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway), Akpabio said Tinubu is ‘’disappointed” by the current state of disunity within opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
The event held to mark President Tinubu’s second year in office, saw Akpabio representing the President.
Earlier, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had criticised the PDP leadership for visiting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the crisis surrounding the party’s National Secretary position.
In response, Akpabio urged the PDP to resolve its internal issues, emphasizing that a functioning democracy needs a strong opposition. He also expressed concern over the leadership crisis within the Labour Party.
“You people got yourselves into this confusion—try and get out of it quickly. President Tinubu is interested in seeing a vibrant opposition. It saddens him to see the opposition in such disarray. As a true democrat, he would like to see strong opposition parties in the country,” Akpabio said.
He added, “Before coming here to represent the President, I received and read a letter from the Labour Party. So it’s not just the PDP; the Labour Party is also in disarray. People who can’t manage a small party are trying to run Nigeria.”
Akpabio also noted the defection of Senator Imasuen from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier in the day.
“I’m not tired; I’m happy to receive him. Our doors are open in the APC. Congratulations to Imasuen, who has decided to leave the fractured Labour Party and join the APC,” he said.
