PRP condemns endorsement of Tinubu, calls it ‘desperate power grab’ – Converseer

ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has condemned the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as “theatrical” and “a desperate power grab.”

In a statement issued on 24th May 2025 and signed by the party’s National Chairman, Mallam Falalu Bello, the PRP criticised the endorsements by the APC’s National Working Committee, the Progressive Governors Forum, and the National Assembly at the party’s National Summit held on Thursday, calling them a mockery of democratic principles.

“The APC’s attempt to cling to power through orchestrated endorsements rather than the genuine voice of the Nigerian people is driven by desperation, not democratic will,” the statement read.

The PRP argued that history has consistently shown that no political structure, no matter how powerful, can withstand the collective rejection of a disillusioned populace. It drew parallels with recent political upheavals across Africa, citing the 2010 electoral defeat of Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo, the 2021 ousting of Zambia’s Edgar Lungu, and the fall of Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh, all of whom relied on state power, endorsements, and political structures but ultimately lost to the will of the people.

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“Power, even when fortified by the strongest structures, is vulnerable when the people no longer believe in its efficiency and legitimacy,” the party said. “Defections become theatre, endorsements become comedy, and power inevitably slips away.”

The PRP said Nigeria now faces similar conditions, with rising fuel prices, widespread poverty, unemployment, insecurity, corruption, and a worsening economy fueling public discontent. It argued that no amount of political staging or public endorsement can suppress the frustration of citizens who feel betrayed by the current administration.

“When citizens whisper, ‘This is not what we voted for,’ it signals a fundamental disconnect between leadership and the governed. These are the real ballots that will determine the future,” the statement added.

The party described the APC’s endorsement of Tinubu as a “pyrrhic” move—symbolic, but ultimately hollow in substance—suggesting that it serves more to showcase internal party control than reflect national sentiment.

The PRP further urged the APC and President Tinubu to prioritise governance over political theatrics, stressing that democracy must be rooted in performance, service delivery, and the restoration of public trust.

“Democracy is not just about endorsements or party machinery; it is about delivering tangible service, security, and dignity to the people,” the statement concluded. “We stand with the Nigerian masses who are crying out for real change, not power grabs.”

The party reiterated its commitment to the Nigerian people, promising to continue to advocate for transparency, good governance, and a government truly accountable to its citizens.