The Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately weaponising state resources to create division within opposition political parties.

Usman made these allegations while speaking at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Global Award and Dinner Night held in Abuja, where she called on coalition partners to make necessary sacrifices to ensure a successful campaign against President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid.

"The ruling party has become adept not just at consolidating power but at weakening every form of challenge to it. This is not democracy. This is domination masked as governance," she stated.

Systematic Undermining of Opposition

According to the former Kaduna senator, since the APC assumed power, there has been a calculated campaign to undermine opposition parties through various tactics including infiltration, co-optation, and the misuse of state institutions.

"Tactics range from infiltration and co-optation to the use of state institutions for harassment, intimidation, and even judicial manipulation," Usman explained, adding that "The APC cannot in good conscience profess commitment to democratic ideals while simultaneously working to destabilise opposition parties like the Labour Party and others."

Usman, who was represented at the event by her Senior Special Adviser (Media), Ken Eluma Asogwa, emphasized that democracy thrives on dissent and robust debate rather than silence or submission.

Call for Opposition Unity

While condemning the ruling party's tactics, the Labour Party factional chairperson also acknowledged internal issues within opposition ranks that have made them vulnerable to external interference.

"But let me also be brutally honest: while external interference from the APC has played a role, it is not the only culprit. The opposition has too often been complicit in its own weakening," she admitted.

Usman appealed to opposition colleagues to set aside personal ambitions, greed, and internal divisions to focus on providing Nigerians with credible alternatives to the current administration.

"We must acknowledge that personal ambition, greed, and internal divisions have made us vulnerable. No amount of external sabotage can succeed if there is no internal decay," she concluded.