The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed a possible alliance or merger being discussed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The APC in a statement by its spokesman Felix Morka said both Atiku and Obi are united by mutual desperation without recognising the transformation of the country being embarked upon by President Bola Tinubu.
Obi’s visit to Atiku with two other visits to former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State have fueled speculation of a possible merger and not alliance between the two political parties being led by them.
Atiku followed that up a few days later stating he was willing to allow Obi become the candidate of the PDP if the PDP agreed to the arrangement.
While party leaders and supporters are divided over the likely arrangement, APC cast doubt on the workability of the arrangement.
The party said it’s “unclear, however, is whether Obi would make a comeback to Atiku’s PDP or whether Atiku would dump his PDP and seek rehabilitation in Obi’s Labour Party or whether both men would abandon PDP and Labour, altogether, and sojourn into the political wilderness of Professor Pat Utomi’s mega party.”
It noted that “news of Peter Obi’s return to the PDP would be hardly surprising. His reputation as a political wayfarer is only dwarfed by Atiku’s track record as a veteran political wanderer.
“News of Atiku joining the Labour party will shock no one as he will be living up to his well established reputation as the country’s most itinerant politician.
“For now, Utomi’s mega party remains a figment with no offering of tangible accommodation for both men,” the Tuesday press statement observed.
It stated that, “Atiku and Obi are united by their mutual desperation to be President of Nigeria and ignoble disdain for President Bola Tinubu’s focused and extraordinary commitment to the transformation of our nation.
“Their restless drift in search of convenient party platforms to execute their presidential run only belie the self-indulgent and opportunistic essence of their aspirations.
“Men without the staying power to build or fix their own parties, who flee at the slightest flicker of internal crisis cannot possibly be trusted by Nigerians to tackle serious and complex national political and economic challenges that confront our nation.”
It emphasised that, “President Bola Tinubu embodies character, vision, tenacity and doggedness required to deliver a resurgent Nigeria of stable growth and development.
“The administration’s bold economic policy reforms and massive infrastructural uptake have already shattered historic barriers to growth, and paved the way for steady progress and development.
“We urge Nigerians to stand fast in their invaluable support of our great Party and President Bola Tinubu’s determined commitment to deliver a stronger, secure and more prosperous country for us all.”