Ambassador Aminu Wali, a senior member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exacerbating internal conflicts within the PDP.

In an interview with the BBC, Wali, a founding member of the PDP, claimed that the APC is intentionally stirring division within opposition parties to destabilise the nation’s political landscape.

Wali stated that it was clear the PDP did not arrive at its current crisis without external interference, particularly from the APC.

“You can be sure that the APC has a hand in the disputes occurring within some political parties in Nigeria,” he asserted.

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The party elder pointed to recent tensions within the PDP, describing how the executive committee struggled to reach peace before ultimately settling the dispute. He suggested that while the APC may not directly admit involvement, they are deliberately fuelling turmoil to weaken opposition unity.

Wali, who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, highlighted the role of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in the PDP’s ongoing crisis. He claimed that Wike’s actions both before and during the election have been indicative of a closer relationship with the APC, alleging that Wike continues to undermine the party while remaining a member.

As a PDP elder, Wali emphasised that while they can offer advice, the authority to discipline errant members lies with the party’s executive committee. He expressed concern that the PDP’s leadership has not acted decisively to address these issues. “If the party had followed its principles, many of the crises we are facing today might have been avoided,” he remarked.

Despite efforts to resolve the issues through various committees, Wali noted that these initiatives have been ineffective, with some committees failing to start their work and key members refusing to cooperate. He called for a major party convention to restructure the leadership and enforce discipline, stressing that this could help restore order within the PDP.

In response to Wali’s allegations, Ahmed Aruwa, the APC publicity secretary in Kano, dismissed the claims.

“The APC has nothing to do with the PDP,” he stated, suggesting that Wali’s accusations might be a result of old age and a misunderstanding of the current political dynamics.

Aruwa also accused the PDP of deflecting blame for its internal problems, claiming, “They are looking for faults here and there instead of focusing on rebuilding their party.”

Aruwa further addressed the role of Wike, defending the FCT Minister’s inclusion in the APC-led government. He noted that Wike was invited to contribute to national development, citing his reputation as a “Mr. Project.”