Tinubu Wants Stronger Opposition, Saddened by PDP and Labour Party Divisions — Akpabio

President Bola Tinubu is reportedly disheartened by the growing disunity within Nigeria’s major opposition parties and has expressed a desire to see a more vibrant and organised opposition bloc, according to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Arterial Road N20 Interchange Bridges in Abuja — where he represented President Tinubu — Akpabio said the president, as a committed democrat, values the role of opposition in deepening Nigeria’s political system.

“President Bola Tinubu GCFR is very interested in seeing a vibrant opposition. It saddens him when he sees the way the opposition is in disarray,” Akpabio stated. “As a true democrat, he would like to see a very vibrant opposition in the country.”

He further highlighted that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) are grappling with internal strife. According to him, shortly before arriving at the event, he received a letter from the Labour Party, indicating cracks within its ranks.

“It’s not only PDP that’s in disarray; even the Labour Party is cracked,” Akpabio said. “People who are strong members of the Labour Party are angling to run Nigeria when they cannot put a small political party like that in order.”

The Senate President also confirmed the defection of Senator Neda Imasuen from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), revealing he personally conducted the defection ritual at the Senate earlier in the day.

“Senator Neda Imasuen just decamped this afternoon from the Labour Party and moved from the left-hand side of the Senate to the right-hand side,” he said. “I’m not tired. I’m happy to receive them because our doors are open in the APC.”

Akpabio concluded by aligning with President Tinubu’s position, expressing hope for a stronger opposition, even while welcoming new members into the APC.

President Tinubu had earlier taken a jab at the opposition during his Democracy Day address, mocking their internal crises and stating bluntly that he would not help them fix their problems.