The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians to use the June 12 Democracy Day celebration as an opportunity to strengthen their resistance against what it described as the All Progressives Congress (APC) government's plot to establish a one-party state in Nigeria.
In a statement released to mark the 2025 Democracy Day, the opposition party urged citizens, democratic institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners to unite in speaking out against what it termed as "stifling of democratic tenets" under the current administration.
PDP's Allegations Against APC Government
The PDP expressed alarm over what it called "anti-democratic actions" of the APC government, accusing it of using state apparatus to violate the constitution, emasculate opposition, and manipulate democratic institutions.
"The APC-led Presidency has remained unaccountable while colluding with the corrupt, rubber stamp APC leadership in the National Assembly and certain compromised Judicial officers in very high places to undermine the sovereignty of the people ostensibly to clear the path for a totalitarian system in our country," the statement read.
The party specifically pointed to the 2024 Edo State Governorship election and the situation in Rivers State, where it claimed a democratically elected government was overthrown and a Sole Administrator imposed in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
Democracy Day Significance
According to the PDP, June 12 Democracy Day embodies Nigerians' struggle against oppressive and despotic systems. The party stated that the day represents citizens' insistence on a government that is accountable, operates on the rule of law, and upholds democratic principles which Chief MKO Abiola "personified and died for."
"These are the democratic values which Nigerians enjoyed under the Peoples Democratic Party. Painfully all have eluded the nation since the coming of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) masquerading as a political party, the APC," the statement continued.
PDP's Demands
The opposition party urged the APC administration to respect Chief Abiola's memory and the sovereignty of Nigerians by adhering to the principle of separation of powers. It called for an end to alleged intrusion in the activities of the National Assembly, INEC, and the Judiciary.
The PDP also called on these institutions to assert their constitutional independence and operate based on the rule of law and the collective interest of the people in promoting democratic tenets.
As Nigeria commemorates another Democracy Day, the statement reflects the ongoing political tensions between the country's major political parties and highlights concerns about the state of democratic governance in Africa's most populous nation.
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