By Muhammad Mamman
The Labour Party (LP) has raised the alarm over what it described as a calculated plan by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to infiltrate and hijack its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Sunday Vanguard, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, claimed that intelligence reports from across the federation suggest that APC loyalists are being positioned to infiltrate LP during its forthcoming congresses at ward, local government, state, zonal, and ultimately, national levels.
“We are aware of a desperate plot by the APC to destabilise our congresses by planting moles at every level,” Akeni alleged.
“And if that fails, they intend to secure a seat at our table to continue from where they left off after failing to use our former National Chairman, Julius Abure, to derail our rebuilding efforts.”
The spokesman further criticised what he termed the “politicisation” of national institutions under the Tinubu administration, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of operating in favour of the ruling party.
Citing recent by-elections in 16 states and alleged manipulation of the ongoing voter registration exercise, Akeni warned against a repeat of past electoral irregularities.
“We cannot return to the embarrassing era when names like Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie appeared on Nigeria’s voters’ register,” he said.
“Eternal vigilance is the price we must all pay to defend our democracy.”
Akeni expressed concern over the credibility of INEC’s current leadership, adding that Nigerians could not afford a further erosion of trust once the tenure of the incumbent Chairman ends later this year.
On the qualities expected of a future INEC boss, he stressed:
“The next Chairman must be above board, fair-minded, God-fearing, incorruptible, and courageous enough to speak truth to power.”
