Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Lagos Central, Bamofin Ladipo Johnson, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “capturing” Nigeria’s state institutions and bastardising the country’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Johnson, who made the allegation in an official statement, condemned the recent unveiling of the APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, describing it as evidence of what he called the ruling party’s growing fusion of partisan politics with the machinery of government.
According to the NDC candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has dangerously blurred the constitutional boundary between public office and partisan political interests, reports Daily Independent.
He specifically faulted 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 involvement of senior government officials, including Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu, in the ruling party’s campaign structure.
He alleged that the development could expose public resources, government infrastructure, official vehicles, state media and security apparatus to partisan use.
“The consequences are stark and immediate,” Johnson warned, alleging that the deployment of public officials and state machinery for partisan campaigns could undermine governance, weaken opposition parties and create an uneven electoral playing field.
He further accused the APC of treating Nigeria as a political possession rather than a sovereign republic governed by constitutional principles.
Johnson also condemned the 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 campaign structure.
He argued that the participation of National Assembly leaders in the ruling party’s campaign machinery could compromise the legislature’s constitutional responsibility to check executive excesses.
“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,” Johnson stated.
He urged Nigerians, particularly voters in Lagos Central Senatorial District, to resist what he described as the systematic hollowing out of democratic institutions.
Johnson said the NDC would stand against what he termed “civilian autocracy”, insisting that public resources must remain exclusively dedicated to serving Nigerians rather than 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.
He called on Nigerians to use their votes and voices to resist what he described as institutional decay and defend the independence of the country’s democratic institutions.
Johnson, who is the NDC senatorial candidate for Lagos Central, said his party remained committed to building a Nigeria where public offices are occupied by individuals who respect the constitutional limits and responsibilities attached to their positions.
