Labour Party Denies N50M Bribery Allegation, Challenges Atiku to Provide Proof

The Labour Party (LP) has firmly denied allegations that its leadership received a N50 million bribe from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition parties in Nigeria.

The party described the claim, made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as reckless, unfounded, and lacking credible evidence.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the LP stated that it had never received any financial inducement from the APC-led government or any non-party-affiliated individuals or organizations. The party expressed shock over Atiku’s comments, insisting that he must provide verifiable proof to back up his allegations.

Atiku, while speaking at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Abuja, alleged that opposition party leaders were offered N50 million each to compromise Nigeria’s democratic process. Reacting to the claim, the Labour Party said it was surprising that a politician of Atiku’s caliber, with decades of political experience, would make such a sweeping statement without concrete evidence.

“We are shocked that a high-caliber politician who has contested elections all his life and is often regarded as an experienced statesman could make such a wild, unguarded, and unfounded statement,” the statement read.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to serving as Nigeria’s strongest opposition force, emphasizing that it has operated solely on internally generated funds. It clarified that its leadership has not received any financial support from elected representatives or external sources, let alone bribes from the ruling party.

“Salaries and payments are public records that can easily be verified. We advise Atiku to be more circumspect and careful in generalizing allegations. He should speak for himself and his party,” the LP added.

The Labour Party further stressed that opposition remains the backbone of a healthy democracy and warned against unfounded claims that could damage the integrity of opposition politics in Nigeria. The party urged Atiku to present credible evidence to substantiate his accusations or risk losing credibility among Nigerians.

The statement concluded with a call for responsible political discourse, asserting that democracy thrives on accountability and factual engagement rather than baseless insinuations.