By Stella Odueme
The Democratic Front (TDF) has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of contributing to poverty in the country by allegedly failing to pay its workers' salaries for over a year.
The group described the situation as hypocritical, considering the party's persistent criticism of President Bola Tinubu's administration over hunger, hardship and rising poverty in Nigeria.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF condemned what it called the ADC's disregard for workers' welfare and dignity of labour.
The group argued that a political party unable to meet its financial obligations to employees lacked the competence to manage the country's economy.
It maintained that the alleged failure to pay salaries reflected an anti-worker disposition, warning that Nigerian workers could face greater hardship if the party assumed power in 2027.
TDF also linked the situation to the past records of some ADC leaders, including its presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar, National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
According to the group, some of Atiku's private businesses had reportedly collapsed amid allegations of irregular salary payments, while it accused Mark of failing to address salary arrears in states during his tenure as Senate President.
It also recalled allegations of half-salary payments to workers during Aregbesola's tenure as governor of Osun State.
The group described the trio as having records it considered unfavourable to workers' welfare and accused them of leading opposition against an administration it said was implementing development and poverty alleviation programmes.
TDF urged Nigerians to reject the ADC and its leadership, insisting that the party had demonstrated a lack of commitment to workers' welfare, while calling for support for the Tinubu administration's poverty reduction initiatives.