By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Labour Party (LP) has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu over his recent remarks mocking the opposition, following the unfolding political crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North-East which has been linked to alleged attempts to sideline Vice President Kashim Shettima.
A political storm has hit the North-East APC following a controversial endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 elections, without any mention of Vice President Shettima, who is from the region.
At Sunday’s APC stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe, National Vice Chairman (North-East) Mustapha Salihu sparked fury when he threw support behind Tinubu as an unopposed candidate, but conspicuously left out Shettima, who hails from Borno State.
Delegates erupted in anger, with some threatening physical assault, forcing Salihu to be whisked away by security operatives. An attempt to douse the tension by Deputy National Chairman Bukar Dalori, who included Shettima in his endorsement, was not enough to calm the heated atmosphere.
Matters escalated further when APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje also endorsed Tinubu for a second term—again with no reference to Shettima. Like Salihu, Ganduje had to be escorted out as the meeting ended abruptly in chaos.
The development came barely 72 hours after President Tinubu on June 12 Democracy Day, openly declared that he takes pleasure in seeing opposition parties in disarray and has no plans to help them organise themselves.
Reacting, LP, in a statement by its Acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, described President Tinubu’s earlier glee at perceived disarray within the opposition as “far beneath what’s expected of a democratic leader” and symptomatic of “a worrying disdain for the essential pillars of democratic engagement.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently mocked the opposition, gleefully declaring his joy at what he described as our moment of disarray,” the statement recalled. “His statement, far beneath what’s expected of a democratic leader, betrays a worrying disdain for the essential pillars of democratic engagement. A president who celebrates the weakening of opposition is, by extension, celebrating the weakening of democracy itself.”
However, the LP argued that the tides have now turned, pointing to the public wrangling and disunity currently rocking the APC in the North-East zone — a region widely considered to be the stronghold of Vice President Shettima.
“Today, we witness the irony of history in motion,” the LP said. “Just days after the President’s unguarded and undemocratic remarks, his own party, the APC, has descended into a public crisis in the North-East. In their reckless bid to enforce a one-man agenda without regard for process, respect, or even the dignity of their own Vice President, the APC has exposed the rot at the core of their politics.”
The statement accused the APC of staging a “charade” which the people of the North-East have rejected, describing the current fallout as “smuggled party officials, a fractured house, and a nation watching.”
“This is not poetic justice. It is political karma,” Senator Usman noted. “What President Tinubu wished for others has turned to plague his own political household. The attempt to undermine Vice President Kashim Shettima in his own region is not just a sign of internal decay, but a dangerous signal to the nation that loyalty, dignity, and truth are traded cheaply in the corridors of power.”
While the LP refrained from openly celebrating the APC’s misfortunes, it called for sober reflection on the part of the president, urging him to prioritise unity and democratic values over political domination.
“Let it be known: democracy thrives not when power is consolidated, but when it is contested with responsibility and honour. We in the Labour Party will not gloat, but we will stand firm. This moment should be a mirror to the President, a time for deep reflection, not petty celebration. Nigeria deserves better than the politics of sabotage and suppression.”
Calling on Nigerians to look beyond the noise of partisan bickering, the Labour Party reiterated its commitment to promoting leadership rooted in truth, humility, and national interest.
“To every Nigerian watching: the time has come to look beyond the noise and choose leadership rooted in humility, truth, and national interest,” the statement concluded. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to building a nation where opposition is not persecuted but protected as a vital sign of our collective democratic health.”
