The National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Chief Peter Ameh, has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress for hosting its caucus meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, describing it as an abuse of power.
In a statement made available to our correspondent in the early hours of Thursday in Lokoja, Ameh called on Nigerians to condemn the move, arguing that the Presidential Villa should not be used for partisan activities.
“The Presidential Villa, the official residence and workplace of the President of Nigeria, is a symbol of national unity and the seat of power. It is a place where important national decisions are made and where the President receives visiting dignitaries.
“However, recent events have raised concerns about the misuse of the Presidential Villa for partisan purposes. Specifically, the hosting of the APC National Caucus meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa should be widely criticized as an abuse of power,” he said.
Ameh argued that the use of the Presidential Villa for partisan meetings violates democratic principles and creates an unfair political landscape.
“The villa belongs to all Nigerians, regardless of their party affiliation. By hosting APC functions at the villa, the ruling party is essentially using state resources for their political gain while excluding other registered political parties from accessing the same facilities. This creates an uneven playing field and undermines the democratic process.”
He further warned that allowing APC to hold political meetings at the Presidential Villa sets a dangerous precedent.
“It suggests that the ruling party is above the law and can use state institutions for their partisan purposes. This erosion of the separation of powers and the politicisation of state institutions can have far-reaching consequences for the stability of the country.
“The use of the Presidential Villa for partisan activities is a slap in the face of Nigerians who are struggling to make ends meet. At a time when the country is facing numerous challenges, including poverty, insecurity, and corruption, it is unacceptable that the ruling party is more concerned with consolidating its power than with addressing the pressing needs of the people.”
Ameh stressed that the Presidential Villa should remain a neutral space and be accessible to all registered political parties, warning that anything less would be a betrayal of the people’s trust.
“Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the Nigerian people,” he added.
