The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it will not stand by and allow President Bola Tinubu’s government to be overthrown before the 2027 general election.
The Chairmen of the APC across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) assert that they have strong intelligence indicating that the planned August protest aims to unseat President Tinubu.
Addressing journalists at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, the chairman of the Cross River State chapter and Secretary of the APC States Chairmen Forum, stated that the ruling party would organize its supporters nationwide to hold solidarity rallies.
The APC chairmen urged Nigerians from all political parties to join in the support rally for President Tinubu’s administration.
Eba emphasized, “As the ruling party, we are prepared to meet every contestant in 2027 but we will not fold our arms and allow undemocratic forces to topple the government we worked so hard to elect into office.
That will be a disservice to the good people of Nigeria who freely gave us this mandate.
“We call on all patriotic Nigerians to resist any attempt by anyone or any group of persons to intimidate them into unorganized protests likely to endanger the peace we currently enjoy as a nation.
We call on patriots to join forces with security agencies to report any criminal element who attempts to carry out any act of violence.
“Against this background, in the next two weeks commencing from today 29th July to 11th August 2024 and from this press briefing, which shall follow with a solidarity rally by all structures of our party across all political wards, LGAs, and state capitals including Abuja FCT, we shall embark on peaceful rallies to re-echo the laudable projects and programs of President Tinubu with greater vigor to protect and defend our democracy from any attack by hoodlums or some criminal elements who want to carry out violent protests.
“All our party members and concerned Nigerians in other political parties are enjoined to stand firm in protection of democracy.
It should be noted that the violent protest being contemplated by the faceless group as contained in their charter of demand will annihilate the democratic ideals to which all political parties subscribe.”
Eba acknowledged that while protest is a constitutional right of the citizens, it must be conducted within the law.
The APC indicated that security intelligence revealed plans by some hoodlums to hijack the protest, describing this as unacceptable.
“This is unacceptable and we must resist it in the most civil manner by sensitizing innocent and peace-loving people of our country about the plans of failed politicians who want to get power through illegitimate means by inciting ignorant Nigerians to embark on violent protests.
“Protest is a constitutional right when done through the rule of law. However, security reports have shown that it is counterproductive to embark on this protest at this time as there are sinister arrangements by some unpatriotic persons to hijack the protest for the sole purpose of unleashing nefarious agendas to perpetrate violence and indulge in high-level criminality reminiscent of the 2020 EndSARS protest and the recent experience in Kenya.
“It is our humble view that this will worsen our already challenging socio-economic situation and that is why we have decided to join our voices to make this appeal to all Nigerians,” APC added.