Nigeria Sliding into Totalitarianism, Anarchy, PDP Raises the Alarm

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, raised the alarm to Nigerians and the International Community that the nation was dangerously sliding into totalitarianism and anarchy under the brazenly repressive and anti-people All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP alerted of attempts and actions of a cabal within the presidency to emasculate the Institutions of Democracy in Nigeria, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary in the desperation to foist a one-Party State on Nigerians.

According to Ologunagba, “This unfolding anti-democratic scenario is not only evident in the manipulation of elections but also in the conflicting judgments by electoral Courts, especially some Election Appeal Court Panels, which judgments are in conflict with the express provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC’s Guidelines and Regulations for elections. 

“What is more worrisome is that these obnoxiously contradictory judgments are targeted at the PDP to the effect that elections that were clearly won by PDP candidates are snatched away at the Courts and awarded to defeated candidates of the APC contrary to the provisions of the Law,” he stated.

The PDP spokesman said aside from the preponderance of such ugly scenarios in Plateau State, the conduct and outcome of certain election petitions in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Nasarawa and other states of the nation, where PDP was robbed of victory through the Courts were pointers to a systemic emasculation of the opposition in a bid to impose a one-party state and the pave way for totalitarianism in the country.

“This situation is a clear and present danger to the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy, unity, political stability and corporate existence as a nation, which is capable of breeding agitation, citizens loss of confidence in the system, restiveness, anarchy and chaos.

”Democracy must be allowed to thrive as the government of the people as expressed by their Will at elections. Any intrusion, breach, violation and/or transgression against that expressed Will as being witnessed today under the APC is a clear recipe for serious political crisis and portends grave consequences for our country.”

Accordingly, he said it was imperative to draw the attention of Nigerians and the whole world to the undermining and crippling of democracy and the danger our nation is facing at this moment.