Tambuwal Accuses Tinubu, APC of Undermining Opposition Parties
Former Governor of Sokoto State and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating efforts to destabilise opposition parties across Nigeria.
Tambuwal made the allegations in a recent interview, claiming that developments within the country’s major opposition parties suggest deliberate interference by the APC and the presidency.
“When you look at what is happening in various political parties in Nigeria today — you don’t need to be told. No matter the amount of denial by whoever, including President Bola Tinubu, it is incorrect to say they are not involved in destabilisation efforts,” Tambuwal said.
He further clarified that his remarks were not based on suspicion but on what he described as clear involvement. “I am not accusing them. I am saying they are involved in efforts aimed at destabilising opposition parties,” he stated. When asked for evidence, Tambuwal doubled down: “I am saying, I am not suspecting. They are involved in all of this.”
President Tinubu came to power in 2023 after defeating former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and other contenders in a closely watched election.
Since then, several opposition leaders, including governors and lawmakers from the PDP and LP, have defected to the APC — a trend that has raised concerns about the health of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy. In addition to defections, internal crises have plagued several opposition parties, which Tambuwal attributes to the ruling party’s influence.
In response to what some see as growing dominance by the APC, a number of prominent political figures from various parties have joined forces under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to form a new coalition. The group includes Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Senate President David Mark, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
However, the APC has dismissed the coalition’s efforts. Speaking in July at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, President Tinubu described the opposition as a “sinking ship.”
“It’s not a bad idea to abandon the sinking ship and be absent from a coalition of confusion,” Tinubu said during the event, where Nentawe Yilwatda, a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, was elected national chairman of the APC.
The political tension comes amid ongoing debates about the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the need for a viable opposition to ensure accountability in governance.