***Says Party Is Not on APC’s Payroll
The Labour Party (LP) has strongly denied allegations that its leadership received a N50 million bribe from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as claimed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said it was not aware of any bribe payments to opposition leaders and had never received funds from individuals, organizations, or governments outside its own membership.
The LP expressed shock and disbelief at Atiku’s statement, which was made during a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja.
The former Vice President had alleged that the APC government was offering opposition party leaders ₦50 million each to undermine democracy.
“We are shocked that a high-caliber politician like Atiku Abubakar, who has contested elections all his life, would make such a reckless, unfounded, and unguarded statement without proof.
“If he has concrete evidence, he should present it instead of relying on mere gossip from unnamed sources,” the statement read.
The party emphasized its commitment to transparency and integrity, stating that it had run a frugal administration with internally generated funds and had not received financial support from external bodies, including its own elected representatives.
Reiterating its role as Nigeria’s most formidable opposition party, the Labour Party stated that it had remained steadfast in challenging the ruling government and had been at the forefront of the most serious political campaign in the 2023 general elections.
“Our leadership has never been on any payroll. Salaries and payments in government are public records that can be easily verified. Atiku should focus on his own party rather than making baseless allegations that undermine the sacrifices of the opposition,” the party added.
The statement also stressed the importance of a strong opposition in a democracy, warning that attempts to discredit opposition parties weaken democratic institutions.
The Labour Party challenged Atiku to provide concrete evidence to back his claims, warning that if he fails to do so, Nigerians may begin to see his statements as politically motivated and lacking credibility.
“If Atiku cannot provide proof, Nigerians will be forced to take his words with a pinch of salt. He should be careful with generalized allegations that diminish the role of the opposition in a democracy,” the party concluded.