A key figure in the All Progressives Congress and former chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties in Cross River State, Mr. Cletus Obun, has asserted that destabilising the opposition Peoples Democratic Party is a legitimate aspect of his party’s political strategy.
He stated that undermining opposition parties is an effective tool in politics, provided it does not escalate into violence.
Obun made these comments on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
His remarks come in response to criticism from Segun Sowunmi, a PDP leader, who had blamed the crisis within his party on the appointment of Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023.
Obun defended the practice of destabilizing rival parties, suggesting that both parties should engage in such tactics as long as they remain non-violent.
He emphasized that it is a common practice for political parties to try to undermine each other, which he views as a valid political weapon.
He said: “If PDP comes out to say so, it’s the worst political confession to be ever made. If you’re saying that we’re able to infiltrate PDP and destabilize them, it’s part of our duty to so, just as it is their work to also ensure that the APC is destabilized; so long as it’s not disruptive to become violent. It’s a good political weapon to use.”
