The national vice chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress for the North East region, Mustapha Salihu, has dismissed the notion that those joining his party will escape prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
While speaking to journalists at his Yola private residence on Saturday night, he said the notion is designed to blackmail the administration of President Bola Tinubu, who, he claimed, has zero tolerance for corruption.
Salihu’s declaration came two months after the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, labelled APC as a new haven for fugitives fleeing from the EFCC.
“It is my belief that more patriots will soon join us even as the PDP self-destructs and the APC becomes a haven for EFCC fugitives,” Babachir said.
He accused the APC of being “delusional,” claiming that its only mantra was to “write election results even before elections begin.”
“This is pure delusion because it will not happen. Nigerians will back us to frustrate any criminal manipulation of the 2027 election results,” Babachir asserted.
Salihu said that anyone with credible information on any APC chieftain involved in corruption should file a petition against such a member, and the party will investigate and prosecute the individual if found guilty.
A lot of APC chieftains have done free bargain, and they are returning money. Anyone that stole money will be prosecuted, even if you join APC, because this administration has zero tolerance for corruption, as corruption killed the economy of the country,” he said.
While tracing the formation of APC, he disclosed that the party was formed as a power-seeking coalition to oust former President Goodluck Jonathan from office.
We succeeded, and Jonathan was sent out of power. After that, people with a one-party ideology of policy-seeking coalition stayed on one side, and political pirates or buccaneers stayed on the other side,” Salihu said.
He added, “The power-seeking coalition is no longer in APC because they could not get what they wanted, but for the majority, we were a policy-seeking coalition, so we remain to build the country.”
Salihu further pointed out that the African Democratic Congress will not last after the 2027 general elections because it is a power-seeking coalition party.
“ADC is a power-seeking coalition, so it would not last, because 80 per cent of the people that joined or fused into ADC are presidential candidates.
“They already have a notion of a Messianic attitude, so nobody is going to step down or support another candidate,” he said.
This power-seeking coalition will not agree, and there is no compromise among them; it is winners-take-all. Immediately, what they are looking for does not materialise, they will take off to another new party,” he added.
On the fate of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri joining APC, Salihu said that political negotiations are not conducted on television or in newspapers.
“Our job in APC is to woo everyone into the party. I will be happy if Fintiri joins my party today. It is criminal and undemocratic to stop anyone from joining any group of their interest.
“If he comes to APC, good; but if he does not, I will wish him well. But I will not wish him good luck,” he said.
