Lagos APC Faults Turaki’s Comments, Says PDP Lacks Capacity to Return Power

Taminu Turaki 

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed comments attributed to Taminu Turaki on plans to “return power to Nigerians,” describing the statement as misleading and lacking in legitimacy.

In a response issued on Tuesday, the party said Turaki, whom it referred to as a “factional chairman” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was in no position to speak on behalf of the opposition party. It accused him of attempting to project authority despite the PDP’s unresolved internal crisis.

According to the statement signed by the Lagos APC spokesperson, Mogaji (Hon.) Seye Oladejo, the PDP remains “broken, scattered and leaderless,” and therefore incapable of mounting any serious national political challenge.

“It is dishonest for Turaki to pretend otherwise,” the APC said. “Before he dreams of returning power to Nigerians, he should first seek legitimacy from his own party members and leaders.”

The ruling party argued that the PDP lost public trust after 16 years in power, citing what it described as mismanagement of resources, corruption, insecurity, and infrastructural decline. It added that Nigerians had “reclaimed power” through electoral decisions in 2015, 2019 and 2023.

The APC further maintained that a party struggling with internal disputes, parallel leadership claims, and ongoing legal battles lacked the capacity to govern the country. 

It urged the PDP to address what it called “factionalism, indiscipline and judicial forum shopping” before making political declarations.

While highlighting what it said were achievements of the Tinubu administration, including economic reforms, institutional restructuring, infrastructure upgrades, and security interventions, the APC criticised the PDP for focusing on what it described as “empty rhetoric.”

The statement concluded that Turaki should prioritise resolving disputes within the PDP rather than “attempting to lecture Nigerians about power,” insisting that only a stable and credible political platform could meaningfully contest leadership at the national level.