By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Thursday challenged the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing both institutions of ‘blurring the line’ between the Nigerian state and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The party said reports that a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, had been engaged by INEC for election logistics, alongside the appearance of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the launch of the pro-Tinubu City Boy Movement, had reinforced fears that institutions expected to stand above partisan politics were drifting into it.

The accusation was contained in a statement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who called on both INEC and the police to explain the developments, insisting that public confidence in the electoral process was at stake.

“There are no longer any discernible boundaries between the Nigerian state and the ruling APC,” Abdullahi said.

The party demanded that INEC clarify the reported engagement of the NURTW faction, arguing that allowing individuals perceived as politically aligned with one of the contestants to transport election personnel and sensitive materials would erode confidence in the credibility of the polls.

It also cited President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration that ‘all is fair in war,’ saying the remark had heightened suspicion surrounding the reported logistics arrangement.

Turning to the police, the ADC questioned the attendance of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the launch of the City Boy Movement.

“The Nigeria Police Force belongs to the Nigerian people, not to any political party,” Abdullahi said, urging the Inspector-General of Police to explain whether the officer’s attendance was officially authorised and whether it was consistent with the political neutrality expected of senior police officers.

The party said it would write the INEC Chairman to demand a formal explanation of the reported logistics arrangement, maintaining that the electoral process must never become a vehicle for political patronage.

It urged the Inspector-General to either discipline the Lagos police commissioner if his attendance at the political event was unauthorised or, if it had official approval, extend the same latitude to senior officers invited to events organised by other political parties.

To stress that demand, the ADC invited the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory to its upcoming political event in Abuja in the interest of fairness and equity.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of allowing key institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force, to become involved in partisan politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern over reports that a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), allegedly linked to MC Oluomo, could be used by INEC for election logistics.

The party also criticised the reported attendance of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, at the launch of the pro-Tinubu City Boy Movement.

Abdullahi said the developments showed a “dangerous collapse of the boundary between the Nigerian state and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”

He added, “There are no longer any discernible boundaries between the Nigerian state and the ruling APC. Political actors are openly infiltrating state institutions, while heads of security units who should statutorily maintain neutrality are shamelessly turning into political cheerleaders of the ruling party and the President.”

The ADC said that if reports about the NURTW’s involvement in election logistics were true, they could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The party stated, “INEC’s credibility depends not only on conducting free and fair elections but also on inspiring confidence among all political stakeholders.”

The opposition party also linked its concerns to President Bola Tinubu’s reported comment that “all is fair in war”, saying the remark had heightened public anxiety about the 2027 elections.

On the police, the ADC argued that senior officers must remain politically neutral, saying, “The Nigeria Police Force belongs to the Nigerian people, not to any political party.”

The party called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to explain any relationship between the commission and the NURTW faction allegedly linked to MC Oluomo. It also asked the Inspector-General of Police to clarify whether the Lagos Commissioner of Police attended the City Boy Movement event with official approval.

The ADC said that if the officer attended without authorisation, disciplinary action should be taken.

However, if the appearance was officially approved, it demanded that senior police officers be allowed to attend opposition political events under the same conditions.

The party also announced plans to invite the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police to its next political event in Abuja, saying, “In the interest of fairness and equity, we fervently expect them to attend.”

ABUJA — National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is making strategic investments in infrastructure and human capital development to achieve its target of building a $1 trillion economy.

Yilwatda stated this while receiving the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, led by its Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Audu, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman said ongoing investments in roads, bridges, rail transportation, deep seaports, education and other critical infrastructure were designed to boost productivity, attract investments, create jobs and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

He said the Tinubu administration had adopted a deliberate approach to infrastructure development, stressing that efficient transportation networks remained essential to achieving long-term economic expansion.

Yilwatda disclosed that the Federal Government was working towards developing five major deep seaports across the country, including the Badagry Deep Sea Port in Lagos State, Olokola Deep Sea Port along the Ondo-Ogun axis, Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom State, Bakassi Deep Sea Port in Cross River State and Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers State.

“These are not isolated infrastructure projects. They are part of a larger economic strategy. We are building the infrastructure that will support the one-trillion-dollar economy that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set as a target for Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the government was also constructing coastal highways and other road networks to link the ports and improve the movement of goods and services nationwide.

“We are building seven coastal roads to connect the five deep seaports. The government is deliberate about this. We want to ensure that our transportation infrastructure supports trade, investment and economic activities across the country,” he said.

Yilwatda also highlighted the strategic importance of the railway project linking Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic, saying it would strengthen regional trade and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness as a logistics hub.

According to him, the rail project would facilitate the movement of people and goods while increasing cargo throughput at Nigerian seaports by providing landlocked Niger Republic with easier access to the country’s maritime infrastructure.

The APC chairman said there were currently 81 federal road projects in the North-Central zone and over 260 road and bridge projects across the six geopolitical zones.

He added that the Federal Government had recently approved 27 major road projects valued at about N3.9 trillion across 15 states as part of efforts to improve connectivity, ease transportation and stimulate commerce.

“Our objective is to improve connectivity across the country so that Nigerians can travel from one part of the country to another within a reasonable period. Better roads mean better commerce, easier access to markets, improved access to healthcare and education, and greater opportunities for investment,” he said.

On the economy, Yilwatda said the administration’s tax reforms were aimed at promoting fairness by ensuring lower-income earners paid less tax while higher-income earners contributed proportionately more.

He also said the government’s foreign exchange reforms had improved market management by addressing distortions associated with the parallel market.

According to him, Nigeria’s economic indicators were showing positive signs, citing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of about four per cent and improved investor confidence.

He further claimed that the country had attracted significant investment commitments, including a reported $20 billion investment by Shell, which he said would create jobs and stimulate economic activities across multiple sectors.

Yilwatda stressed that the administration’s economic reforms were being complemented by investments in education and healthcare.

He commended the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, for its contribution to the training of healthcare professionals, describing the institution as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.

He also welcomed recent measures by the Federal Government to improve the welfare of university lecturers, expressing confidence that better remuneration and improved working conditions would strengthen the education sector and reduce industrial disputes.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Audu, appealed to the APC chairman to facilitate access to President Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to enable the institution present its development plans and seek support for critical infrastructure projects.

Responding, Yilwatda assured the delegation that the request would receive due attention, noting that strengthening institutions such as the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, aligned with the administration’s commitment to human capital development.