June 12: PDP Urges Nigerians to Resist Tinubu, APC’s Alleged One-Party State Agenda
As Nigeria commemorates June 12 Democracy Day, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a strong call to action, urging citizens to rise in defense of democracy against what it describes as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s plot to establish a despotic one-party regime in the country.
In a statement marking the 2025 Democracy Day, the PDP accused the APC-led federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of orchestrating systemic attacks on democratic institutions and freedoms, aimed at silencing opposition voices and eroding constitutional governance.
According to the opposition party, the APC is “using compromised state apparatus of power to brazenly violate the constitution, emasculate opposition, defy and abridge the liberty of citizens to freely elect their leaders, manipulate institutions of democracy, stifle the media, and weaponize poverty.” The party alleges that these actions are part of a broader scheme to instill a defeatist mentality in Nigerians and convert the country into a political estate controlled by a select few in power.
Call to Citizens and Democratic Stakeholders
The PDP’s statement extends beyond political rhetoric, calling on Nigerians, democratic institutions, civil society groups, and international development partners to resist what it describes as a creeping authoritarianism. The party urges these stakeholders to speak out against the erosion of justice, rule of law, and electoral integrity in the country.
“This Democracy Day must serve as a re-awakening moment,” the PDP declared, “to reclaim our democracy from the grip of a regime bent on subverting the people’s will and dismantling the foundation of democratic governance.”
Allegations of Constitutional Violations
The PDP cited specific events that it claims signify a dangerous trend toward totalitarianism. These include:
- The 2024 Edo State Governorship Election: The PDP accuses the APC of manipulating the election process to subvert the will of the people.
- Rivers State Crisis: The party condemned the imposition of a Sole Administrator, describing it as a “widely condemned overthrow of a democratically elected government” and a clear violation of the 1999 Constitution.
The PDP also accused President Tinubu’s administration of colluding with what it described as a “rubber-stamp” National Assembly and compromised judiciary officials to suppress opposition and consolidate power.
Democracy in Peril?
The tone of the PDP’s Democracy Day message reflects growing political tension and dissatisfaction among opposition figures and segments of civil society. While the APC has repeatedly maintained that it upholds democratic values, critics argue that rising political centralization and suppression of dissent raise serious concerns about the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
As the country reflects on the legacy of June 12 and the sacrifice of democratic heroes, the PDP insists that the day must not only commemorate the past but also serve as a clarion call to defend Nigeria’s democratic future.
