The ruling All Progressives Congress has slammed presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, over his comments on the recent demolition of structures at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.

The Lagos State chapter of the party described the politician’s comments as “misleading” and “reckless.”

In a statement on Thursday, the party’s  Lagos State spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said the exercise was lawful and necessary intervention to restore order and safety in the state.

“The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has noted with concern the reckless and misleading remarks credited to Mr Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, on the ongoing demolition of illegal structures at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex,” the party said.

It added, “The structures in question are indisputably illegal encroachments that pose environmental, security, and commercial risks. To mischaracterize this as an attack on any group of Nigerians is dishonest, inflammatory, and unbecoming of a man who aspires to national leadership.”

Mr Obi had described the demolition as unjust and economically destructive, insisting the government should be committed to defending the dignity of its citizens with compassion and empathy.

However, the ruling party in Lagos accused the the politician of personally supervising and defending demolition of structures in Upper Iweka (2009), Ochanja Market (2010), and parts of Awka and Nnewi in the name of “urban renewal” during his time as Anambra governor.

“Even more telling was his silence in 2012, when the Anambra State Government carried out large-scale demolitions of illegal structures in Onitsha to reclaim major roads. At the time, bulldozers rolled through the commercial city, removing shops and extensions that had taken over drainages and access roads. Obi, who was governor then, said nothing. He kept mute for obvious reasons – because the enforcement served his administration’s agenda,” the statement stated.

Accusing Mr Obi of whipping up ethnic and political sentiments, the party noted that the politician should rather educate his “supporters about the importance of respecting constituted authority, urban planning, and public safety” instead of instead of condemning the demolition.

The party added, “The Lagos APC reiterates that the rule of law must remain supreme. No society can thrive when illegality is normalized for political expediency. The demolition exercise at the Trade Fair Complex is not targeted at any tribe, faith, or political persuasion; it is a continuation of government’s responsibility to protect public assets and ensure sanity in commercial operations.

“We call on Nigerians to see through the desperate antics of Peter Obi and his attempt to paint every lawful government action in Lagos as an assault on his support base. Governance cannot be reduced to populism at the expense of legality and order.”