The Labour Party has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of political victimisation following the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) decision to withhold the discharge certificate of Ushie Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye.
In a statement on Monday by Ken Eluma Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the LP alleged that the NYSC’s action was a “vengeful act” emblematic of what it described as the administration’s intolerance for dissent.
The NYSC had claimed that Raye’s certificate was withheld because she failed to attend her mandatory April 2025 biometric clearance. However, according to the party, the singer presented herself at the Local Government Inspector’s (LGI) office with all required documents that month but was unjustly turned away by the official on duty.
The LP further accused the APC government of criminalising freedom of expression, citing Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution, and questioned why Raye was allegedly targeted for criticising the government’s policies.
“What exactly did Raye say that is not already common knowledge? Is there any Nigerian today who does not know that this APC government is ‘terrible’ in its policy initiatives and implementations?” the statement read.
The opposition party urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the NYSC to release Raye’s certificate, warning against what it called a “dangerous descent into authoritarianism.”
The statement also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, alleging that the current administration’s governance style threatens the nation’s democracy.
