The Labour Party on Wednesday, January 29, denied claim by a former vice president and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar that leaders of opposition parties were under the payroll of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Atiku in his claim also indicated that the APC was paying N50 million to leaders of various opposition parties to help prevent the parties for playing their role against the ruling party.
However, in a statement issued by Obiora Ifoh, Labour Party spokesperson, the party said its leadership is not aware of any bribe alleged to have been paid to opposition parties.
Ifoh added that the LP’s leadership has never received a dime from any individual, group, organisation or government who are not members of the Labour Party.
He said, “The party has however expressed shock and disbelief by the revelation from one of the leading political figures and former vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that it would be improper for the politician to throw a shade at the entire opposition without also putting forward a tangible proof other than a ‘gossip’ from an unnamed source.”
He added that the leadership of the Labour Party is surprised that such a high-ranking politician would make such a wild claim.
Describing the Labour Party as the strongest and most veritable opposition, Ifoh said the party has remained constant in speaking truth to power at all times.
“The leadership has not received any salary from anybody. Salaries are not hidden and it is not difficult to verify who and who are on the government payroll. It is a public document and it can be verified. We therefore advise Atiku to be circumspect and careful in generalizing certain allegations. We expect him to speak for himself and his party,” he said.
Stating that the opposition is the oxygen which sustains the democracy of every country, Ifoh further called on Atiku to provide concrete evidence to substantiate his allegations.