The All Progressives Congress in Anambra State has accused the All Progressives Grand Alliance of deceiving President Bola Tinubu over its relationship with the Federal Government.
The APC made the allegation while reacting to arrangements for the visit of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State on Thursday.
The party claimed that APGA was giving President Tinubu the impression that both parties were working together, despite allegedly sidelining the APC and its structures from national activities in the state.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Awka by the APC state secretary, Obi Okpala.
The party protested what it described as the exclusion of its leadership and women from the arrangements for the First Lady’s visit.
According to the APC, it only learnt about the arrangements through an announcement from the Office of the First Lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo.
The APC welcomed Oluremi Tinubu to Anambra and commended her commitment to the empowerment, welfare and economic advancement of Nigerian women, particularly her initiative to empower thousands of women across the Southeast.
However, the party expressed disappointment that its state leadership, women’s leadership and recognised party structures had not been formally invited or meaningfully carried along in the preparations for the visit.
The APC said an official visit by the First Lady, especially one focused on empowering women, should go beyond partisan interests and allow for wider participation and consultation.
The party questioned what it described as the repeated public claim that progressives are working together in Anambra State.
It alleged that the claim was being used mainly for public relations, accusing APGA of failing to market President Tinubu and his achievements in the state.
The APC further accused APGA of using the alleged relationship with the President to confuse the public and persuade voters to support APGA candidates in National Assembly and state assembly elections.
The party insisted that its criticism should not be seen as an attempt to politicise the First Lady’s humanitarian and empowerment programme.
Rather, it said the complaint was an appeal for greater inclusion and recognition of all relevant stakeholders in the spirit of national unity.
The APC also said it had strengthened its structures in Anambra State to support President Tinubu.
The party rejected the claim that progressives were working together, arguing that the situation was not reflected in APGA’s activities and media communication.
According to the APC, APGA’s media activities were allegedly demarketing President Tinubu and the APC while creating the impression that it could deliver significant support for the President in the state.
The party said APGA was using what it described as a 25 percent narrative to confuse President Tinubu, despite its claim that APGA was not capable of producing the level of support being suggested.
The APC maintained that its structures remained committed to delivering support for President Tinubu in Anambra State and called for proper recognition and inclusion of the party in activities involving the Federal Government and its representatives.
