In a recent statement, Lauretta Onochie, a former aide to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, has raised allegations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) being infiltrated and controlled by individuals with ties to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Onochie lamented that these alleged PDP agents are obstructing the APC from nominating candidates capable of winning elections.
Expressing her concerns on social media platform X, Onochie emphasized the urgent need for the APC to reclaim its autonomy from what she described as PDP interference. She criticized the practice of a select few dictating party decisions instead of allowing broader participation from party members and supporters.
Onochie highlighted specific instances in the South South region where she believes the APC was influenced by PDP-affiliated individuals, resulting in the nomination of subpar candidates who were unlikely to compete effectively against PDP nominees in states such as Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
She urged the official APC account to take action and collaborate with genuine progressives within the region to offer Nigerians, particularly those in the South South, a credible alternative to the PDP. Onochie suggested a reformation of the APC, with a focus on inclusivity, particularly involving women, and emphasized the necessity of reinforcing party rules and regulations to deter misconduct.
Her remarks underscored the need for the APC to assert its distinct identity as a progressive political entity, separate from the practices associated with the PDP. She concluded by advocating for the restructuring of the APC and a concerted effort to attract respectable individuals to the party.
Onochie’s outspoken commentary sheds light on the internal challenges faced by the APC and the broader political dynamics within Nigeria, especially concerning the influence of rival political factions on party affairs.
