TheCable

Salihu Lukman, vice-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north-west, says the Labour Party (LP) is popular because Nigerians are frustrated with the country’s political parties – including the ruling party.

In a statement on Tuesday, Lukman said citizens are looking for vibrant party structures that would address the divergent interests.

The vice-chairman said organs of the APC have not been allowed to function, adding that women, youth and persons living with disability wings – not yet formed – would represent the interests of these groups thought to be marginalised.

“In addition to these organs (NAC, NEC and national caucus), the amended APC constitution created three new structures, namely women’s wing, youth wing and persons living with disability wing,” he said.

“Outside the initiatives of the presiding officers of these three structures  — national women’s leader, national youth leader and national leader of persons living with disabilities, since April 2022 following the assumption of office of the Sen. Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC, nothing has been done to organise the women’s, youth and persons living with disability wings.

“The popularity of the Labour Party during the 2023 elections is partly a reflection of the frustration of Nigerians with our political parties, including the APC.

“Nigerians are looking for parties with vibrant structures whose internal debates and contests would aggregate the diverse interests of Nigerians.”

Lukman said as long as the APC is operated as a “closed structure”, President Bola Tinubu would lack the needed political legitimacy to win the support of Nigerians especially when it comes to implementing difficult policy choices.

“No doubt, difficult decisions must be taken to effectively resolve our challenges as a nation. However, in taking those difficult decisions, it will be much easier to implement when the government is able to win the support of Nigerians through engagements with organised groups,” he said.