"Bandit Turji Has Registered As an APC Member" Dalung Claims, Accuses Federal Government of Buying Institutions

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has accused the Federal Government of allegedly co-opting state institutions and political actors through inducements, claiming that even notorious bandit leaders are now aligning with the ruling party.

OTN News further reports as gathered that Dalung made the allegation on Tuesday during a protest at the National Assembly against the Senate’s approval of a framework allowing both electronic transmission and manual collation of election results. 

The protest drew activists and political actors who expressed concern over what they described as threats to electoral transparency.

Addressing protesters, Dalung claimed that the government has embarked on a wide-reaching campaign of political accommodation and endorsement, arguing that no individual or group is being sidelined because the administration is “buying people” to remain relevant.

He alleged that the government had won over “non-performing governors” and said the level of endorsement being sought had reached alarming proportions. According to him, even criminal elements were now being linked to the ruling party.

“Is there anybody that is sidelined in Tinubu’s government?” Dalung asked. “A government that is going about buying people. It has even bought non-performing governors to its side. Where does that government get the concept to sideline?”

Dalung further claimed that infamous bandit leader Bello Turji had registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress, describing it as evidence of what he called the government’s desperation for endorsement.

“A government that is desperately looking for people for endorsement. It has been endorsed by almost everybody. Bandits have even endorsed it. Bandit Turji has registered as an APC member,” he said.

In a string of sarcastic remarks, the former minister suggested that political defections and institutional compromises had become so widespread that even key democratic and security institutions could eventually align with the ruling party.

“The governors are defecting. INEC may defect. The Supreme Court will defect. Police will defect. The Army will defect,” Dalung said, likening the administration to what he described as “a sinking ship.”

OTN News observes that the comments added to ongoing political tensions surrounding electoral reforms and party defections ahead of future elections. 

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government nor the All Progressives Congress had issued an official response to Dalung’s claims.