APC slams Utomi, says shadow government is ‘pure ‘fantasy’
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized political economist Professor Pat Utomi over his May 5 declaration of a “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government,” describing the move as a “desperate” and “reckless” political stunt devoid of substance.
In a press statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC accused Utomi of making baseless claims against President Bola Tinubu’s administration and engaging in what it called “intellectual drama.”
The party rejected Utomi’s assertions that the federal government’s policies had worsened poverty and suppressed opposing views. It argued that Utomi’s ability to freely declare a shadow government was itself a testament to Nigeria’s flourishing democracy and freedom of speech. “It is preposterous to suggest that the Tinubu administration is suppressing opposition,” the APC said. “Utomi’s unilateral declaration is, in and of itself, an extreme exercise of democratic freedom.”
The statement also condemned Utomi’s comparison of Nigeria’s political atmosphere to Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, calling the analogy “irresponsible, reckless, and insensitive.”
Describing Utomi as a “serial promoter” of failed coalitions and political experiments, the party said his persistent but unrealized efforts to form alternative power blocs reveal his lack of political realism. It pointed to his unsuccessful bids with the APC and Labour Party, as well as his role in previous “third force” movements that failed to gain traction.
The APC further defended the administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, arguing that opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi had also campaigned on similar policies during the 2023 elections. The party accused Utomi of political opportunism by exploiting transitional challenges for personal gain.
On the recent wave of defections into the APC, the statement claimed it was a sign of public confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and a clear repudiation of what it called the “rudderless” leadership of opposition parties.
“These defectors have chosen patriotism over partisanship and are aligning with the transformative agenda of President Tinubu to reposition the nation,” the APC concluded.
