The Labour Party (LP) has raised alarm over a calculated move by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to infiltrate its ranks, calling for vigilance in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. According to the LP’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, the APC is planning to sabotage the party’s forthcoming congresses by infiltrating its structures at various levels.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Sunday Vanguard, Akeni revealed that the Labour Party had received reports from across the country about the ruling party’s strategy to deploy “moles” into LP’s ranks. These operatives are reportedly being positioned to take control of the party’s structure during upcoming congresses at the ward, local government, state, zonal, and national levels.
“We have been made aware of the heinous plot by the ruling APC to infiltrate our ranks at all levels and derail our forthcoming congresses,” Akeni stated. He continued, “If this attempt fails, their plan is to get a seat at our party’s table and continue where they left off after their failed attempt to use our former National Chairman, Julius Abure, to distract us from our core mission of rebuilding our party.”
The LP spokesperson further highlighted the role of the current administration in allegedly manipulating key institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which, according to Akeni, has been turned into a tool to serve the interests of the ruling party.
“Everyone witnessed what happened during the recent by-elections across 16 states, and the ongoing manipulation of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise,” he said. Akeni also referred to the absurdity of seeing prominent figures like American boxer Mike Tyson and the late pop star Michael Jackson on the voter register, pointing to the severe flaws in the country’s electoral system.
As part of its efforts to safeguard the integrity of the election process, the Labour Party has urged Nigerians to stay vigilant. “Eternal vigilance, as the saying goes, is the price we must pay to protect our democracy,” Akeni stressed.
The LP also expressed concern over the current leadership of INEC, stating that the body appears to be aligning with the interests of the ruling APC. “The body language of INEC as it stands suggests that it is only willing to pander to the whims and caprices of the ruling party,” said Akeni.
