The National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Peter Ameh, has strongly condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for hosting its national caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa’s Banquet Hall.
In a statement released early Thursday in Lokoja, Ameh described the event as an abuse of power and called for widespread condemnation from Nigerians.
The Presidential Villa, as the official residence and workplace of Nigeria’s President, is a symbol of national unity, according to Ameh. He stressed that it is a space meant for important national decisions and the reception of visiting dignitaries, not for political party activities. Ameh argued that the APC’s use of the Villa for its functions violated democratic principles by blurring the line between state institutions and partisan interests.
Ameh pointed out that the Presidential Villa belongs to all Nigerians, not just those affiliated with the ruling party. By hosting party functions there, he argued, the APC is effectively using state resources for political gain, thereby excluding other registered political parties from equal access to state facilities. This, he noted, undermines fairness and the democratic process by creating an uneven playing field.
He further criticized the practice as setting a dangerous precedent. “It suggests that the ruling party is above the law and can use state institutions for partisan purposes,” Ameh said. He warned that such actions could erode the separation of powers and lead to the politicization of state institutions, with potentially serious consequences for national stability.
Ameh concluded by emphasizing that the use of the Presidential Villa for APC events was a direct insult to Nigerians, particularly those facing difficulties such as poverty, insecurity, and corruption. He called on the ruling party to respect the neutrality of the Villa and make it available to all political parties, arguing that failing to do so would betray the trust placed in them by the Nigerian people.
