The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Lagos Central, Bamofin Ladipo Johnson, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly hijacking state institutions and weakening Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Johnson, in a statement, described the recent unveiling of the APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council as a troubling development, alleging that it reflected an increasing merger of partisan politics with the machinery of government.
According to him, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had blurred the constitutional line between public office and party politics.
He specifically criticised the appointment of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, as Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication of the APC campaign council.
Johnson also questioned the participation of other senior government officials, including Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu, in the APC campaign structure.
He warned that the involvement of serving government officials could create opportunities for the alleged use of public resources, government infrastructure, official vehicles, state-owned media and security apparatus for partisan purposes.
“The consequences are stark and immediate,” Johnson said, alleging that deploying public officials and state machinery for partisan campaigns could undermine effective governance, weaken opposition parties and create an uneven playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.
The NDC candidate further accused the APC of treating Nigeria as a political possession rather than a sovereign country governed by constitutional principles.
Johnson also raised concerns over the reported involvement of senior political office holders, including the President’s Chief of Staff, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in the ruling party’s campaign structure.
He argued that the participation of National Assembly leaders in the APC campaign machinery could undermine the legislature’s constitutional duty to provide checks and balances on the executive.
“When the leadership of the legislature—the very organ built to check executive excesses—subordinates itself to a party campaign council, the independence of our parliament is utterly destroyed,” he stated.
Johnson urged Nigerians, particularly voters in Lagos Central Senatorial District, to reject what he described as the systematic weakening of democratic institutions.
He said the NDC would oppose what he termed “civilian autocracy”, insisting that public resources should be used solely for the benefit of Nigerians and not for advancing partisan political interests.
“The APC has shown its hand early. They intend to use the sheer weight of state capture to override the will of the people in 2027,” he alleged.
The NDC candidate called on Nigerians to use their votes and voices to resist what he described as institutional decay and protect the independence of the country’s democratic institutions.
Johnson reaffirmed his party’s commitment to building a Nigeria where public officials respect the constitutional limits and responsibilities attached to their offices.
