Like the press, opposition political parties act as watchdogs in a democracy. They exist primarily to hold the ruling party – and by extension, the government – accountable.
They do this by criticising government policies and offering credible alternative viewpoints to check abuses of power.
In performing this function, the opposition must base their criticisms on facts, not sentiment or propaganda. Ultimately, their aim is to position themselves as a viable alternative government and, eventually, unseat the ruling party in the next general election.
With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having fixed dates for the 2027 general elections, opposition parties – notably the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and the newly registered African Democratic Congress (ADC) – are actively scrutinising the policies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR.
The opposition are criticising the federal government over the perceived failure of the Renewed Hope Agenda, arguing that it has not improved the lives of Nigerians.
They are also condemning President Bola Tinubu administration’s heavy external borrowing despite the removal of the oil subsidy, frequent and unproductive foreign travel, unchecked corruption, and the alleged witch-hunt of leading opposition figures by anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
Furthermore, the opposition accuse the federal administration of paying lip service to the rising tide of insecurity, including banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and killings – particularly of Christians, leading the former US President, Donald Trump, to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPN).
For all these issues, alongside high unemployment, the opposition are urging Nigerians to vote for a change of government in 2027. Despite this barrage of criticism, the ruling APC maintains it is performing well and deserves a second term.
In Abia State, the main opposition political parties to the ruling Labour Party (LP) are the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Unlike at the federal level, the opposition in Abia State, particularly the APC, bases its criticisms of Governor Alex Otti’s administration on misconceptions, falsehoods, and propaganda. Their criticisms lack factual basis and are driven by sentiment.
For example, the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, claimed that the Omenauko Bridge, built by the Otti administration, was reconstructed by the federal government. This was a blatant attempt to gain favour with the people of Abia, but the public knows the truth.
The Abia APC is also attempting to downplay Governor Alex Otti’s efforts in reconstructing a major section of the Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene Trunk-A Road by attributing the credit to the federal government. This is unfair.
A few days ago, Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Abia State Governor, claimed that his administration in 1999 lowered school fees at Abia State University, Uturu, from ₦200,000 to ₦7,000. This claim has since been proven false. If the Abia opposition focused its criticisms on the performance of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in the state, that would be understandable.
Governor Alex Otti and his administration cannot be accused of underperformance. As Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, a former Minister and APC stalwart in the state, recently stated, Alex Otti is performing creditably. The industrialist unequivocally supports the Governor’s bid for a second term in recognition of his exceptional performance.
As 2027 approaches, the people of Abia must choose between good governance and baseless propaganda. Undoubtedly, they will vote for good governance and continuity.
Isiakpu is a veteran Journalist/Public Relations Consultant
