The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to oppose what it terms the “anti-democratic” schemes of the All Progressives Congress (APC), specifically the alleged plan to impose a tyrannical one-party system in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party made this appeal as the nation commemorates Democracy Day on June 12.
The PDP called upon Nigerians to resist this purported scheme in the interest of preserving the country’s democratic values.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) encourages Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the June 12 Democracy Day to revive and bolster their opposition to the anti-democratic strategies of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly the intention to establish a despotic One-Party regime in Nigeria.
“The PDP implores Nigerians, democratic institutions, organized civil society, development partners, and all advocates of democracy to come together and voice their opposition against the suppression of democratic principles such as justice, the Rule of Law, a free, fair, peaceful, and credible electoral process, and the fundamental right of citizens to engage freely in politics and governance in Nigeria.”
The PDP has claimed that the current administration is exploiting poverty to compel Nigerians to comply with its demands.
It has accused the APC of lacking accountability to the populace and colluding with corrupt officials within the judiciary and the National Assembly.
“The PDP expresses its concern regarding the anti-democratic measures taken by the APC government, which continues to utilize compromised state mechanisms to blatantly infringe upon the Constitution, suppress opposition, undermine the citizens’ right to freely elect their leaders, corrupt and manipulate democratic institutions, stifle the media, and weaponize poverty, all in an effort to instill a defeatist mindset among the populace and transform our nation into a personal domain for a select few in power.
“It is particularly troubling that the APC-led Presidency has continued to evade accountability while collaborating with the corrupt, compliant APC leadership in the National Assembly and certain compromised Judicial officials in high positions to erode the sovereignty of the populace, ostensibly to pave the way for a totalitarian regime in our nation.
“The blatant engagement in State Capture, as demonstrated by the subversion of the people’s Will in the 2024 Edo State Governorship election, the widely condemned ousting of a democratically elected government, and the imposition of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State, in clear violation of the explicit provisions of the 1999 Constitution, among other constitutional breaches, signals a significant and immediate threat to our democracy,’ the statement indicated.
The party urged Nigerians, on the occasion of Democracy Day, to resist oppression from the APC.
“June 12 Democracy Day, thus, symbolizes the struggle of Nigerians against an oppressive, tyrannical, and lawless regime characterized by impunity, high-level deceit, and reckless anti-people actions as currently observed under the APC administration.
“It also signifies the demand by Nigerians for a system that is accountable to the citizenry, adheres to the Rule of Law, and upholds democratic principles of freedom, justice, fairness, equity, credible elections, national unity, transparency, and accountability in governance, which Chief MKO Abiola epitomized and sacrificed his life for.
“These are the democratic ideals that Nigerians experienced under the Peoples Democratic Party. Regrettably, all of these have been absent from the nation since the emergence of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) masquerading as a political party, the APC.”
It called for the APC to honor the legacy of the late MKO Abiola by adhering to democratic principles.
The PDP consequently insists that the APC administration honors the legacy of Chief Abiola, the law, and the sovereignty of the Nigerian populace by upholding the Principle of Separation of Powers, ceasing interference in the functions of the National Assembly and other Democratic Institutions, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary, permitting a free press, committing to credible elections, being honest and transparent, and reassessing all its policies that exploit poverty.
In light of this, our Party calls upon the National Assembly, the Judiciary, and INEC to affirm their Constitutional Independence and to function solely based on the Rule of Law and the collective welfare of the people in fostering the principles of democracy.
The PDP, however, extends its congratulations to Nigerians on this year’s Democracy Day and encourages them not to succumb to the malicious schemes of any individual or group aimed at undermining their faith in Democracy, but to remain law-abiding and continue to support the PDP as we prepare for the 2027 elections to liberate our nation from the grip of the APC.
