Dare Babalola
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticised the editorial board of Daily Trust newspaper over a recent publication titled “APC Should Learn From History”, describing it as a “sordid display of editorial bias” and “peddling untruths designed to malign APC”.
In a statement signed on Monday by Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, the APC expressed disappointment and concern over the newspaper’s alleged failure to uphold the principles of responsible journalism.
Morka argued that the editorial’s conclusion that the defection of state governors from opposition parties to APC portends a “dangerous trend towards the erosion of multi-party democracy and a descent into a despicable one-party state” was unfounded, speculative, and lacking in evidence.
“The paper failed miserably to explain how the exercise by the governors of their constitutional freedom of association, and democratic liberty to choose among competing party alternatives threatens the country’s multiparty democracy or signifies a descent into a system of one-party state,” Morka said.
The APC spokesperson emphasised that the newspaper’s assertion that citizens’ right to associate with any political organisation must be exercised “within the bounds of the law” was a hollow claim, as no law prohibits governors from quitting the party platform on which they were elected and joining another party of their choice.
He also noted that the APC is well within its authority and function to welcome citizens who desire to join the party by subscribing to its membership, adding that there is no rule of law that prohibits a political party from receiving new members who subscribe to its membership.
The party accused Daily Trust of double standards, pointing out that the newspaper had not raised similar concerns over defections from APC to opposition parties.
“Defections in Nigerian politics are neither new nor one-sided,” Morka said, citing examples of prominent APC members who have defected to other parties, including the ADC.
The APC spokesperson emphasised that democracy is a system of freedoms, and that one-party states are not created by wishful thinking, but rather through extensive constitutional and legislative reforms.
He reiterated the party’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians and building a stronger and more prosperous nation.
In conclusion, Morka stated that while the editors of Daily Trust have the freedom to form and express their editorial opinions, they bear a corresponding duty to uphold time-tested values of responsible journalism in the public interest.
“It is a mark of crass irresponsibility for Daily Trust to peddle falsehoods, conjectures, and outright deception as editorial material,” he said.
