The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for hosting the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
In a statement issued on Thursday, CUPP’s National Secretary, Peter Ameh, condemned the move, calling it a dangerous precedent and an outright abuse of power. He argued that the Presidential Villa, as Nigeria’s seat of power, should remain a neutral space rather than being used for partisan activities.
“The Presidential Villa, the official residence and workplace of the President of Nigeria, is a symbol of national unity and the seat of power. It is a place where important national decisions are made and where the President receives visiting dignitaries,” Ameh stated.
Expressing concern over what he described as the politicization of state institutions, he said, “The hosting of the APC National Caucus meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa should be widely criticized as an abuse of power.”
Ameh further emphasized that the Villa belongs to all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, and should not serve as a venue for party meetings. He described the president’s action as “a slap in the face of Nigerians,” warning that blurring the lines between governance and party politics could have serious implications for the country’s stability.
“It is essential that the ruling party respects the neutrality of the Presidential Villa and ensures that it is made available to all registered political parties,” he said. “Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the Nigerian people.”
The CUPP has urged Nigerians at home and abroad to condemn what it sees as a misuse of state resources for political advantage.
