APC forced governors into her fold,unleashing RC to police them has set fire to APC foundation-Ukpai

The South-East Coordinator of the Kwankwaso National Network (KNN) and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Ukpai Iro Ukpai, has criticised the conduct of the 2027 election campaigns, describing them as increasingly characterised by money, intimidation and political arrogance rather than meaningful engagement between candidates and voters.

In an interview with The Sun, Ukpai said the campaigns, particularly those of presidential candidates, had witnessed violence, including attacks on vehicles, destruction of buses and loss of lives in different parts of the country, from Asaba to Katsina.

He also criticised what he described as extravagant displays of wealth by political leaders, particularly the ruling party, during presidential campaign rallies. He noted that the ruling party had deployed expensive vehicles, buses and government-funded resources to showcase its influence.

Ukpai further alleged that some political parties were hiring crowds to attend their rallies, adding that some participants had openly admitted that their presence did not translate into genuine support or commitment to the candidates sponsoring the events.

He argued that the ruling party’s campaigns were largely driven by attempts to regain political relevance through financial inducements, while the opposition was drawing support from the frustrations and economic difficulties experienced by ordinary Nigerians, particularly young people.

According to him, the ruling party was relying on government-backed resources to secure public acceptance, describing its campaign approach as transactional rather than transformational.

In contrast, Ukpai said the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance had generated considerable enthusiasm among supporters through the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, alongside the Kwankwaso National Network.

He maintained that the alliance between Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had energised political activities, claiming that their campaign visits attracted considerable attention both on social media and at physical rallies across the country.

Ukpai also argued that the enthusiasm surrounding the opposition movement contrasted with the ruling party’s campaign activities.

Assessing the major political parties about two months before the election, he said internal disagreements and unresolved grievances were becoming increasingly evident. He noted that the APC was also experiencing internal tensions, while aggrieved opposition members who believed they had been unfairly treated during party primaries were contributing to the growing divisions within their respective parties.

He further said, “The proxy war between Wike and APC governors has already escalated into a public structural battle, causing significant fractures across some APC controlled states, notably Imo, Kwara, and Gombe.

“Wike’s Rainbow Coalition has exposed a fundamental contradiction: a political arrangement designed to secure presidential support for the ruling party may simultaneously weaken the ruling party’s control over governorship and legislative contests.

“The ruling party built a house of cards by forcing governors into their fold, but by unleashing a ‘Rainbow Coalition’ to police those same governors, they have set fire to their own foundation and it is disorganising their campaigns badly.”

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