- APC accuses PDP of deviating from its purpose, becoming a hindrance to democracy, and attempting to undermine democratic institutions
- APC criticizes PDP for attacking the judiciary, alleges hypocrisy in celebrating favorable court judgments while protesting unfavorable ones
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asserted that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once a formidable opposition, has deviated from its purpose and now hinders partisan democracy.
This response comes in the wake of allegations made by PDP’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, who claimed that the APC was scheming to utilize compromised election petition courts to overturn PDP victories.
In a statement issued by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party criticized the PDP for launching attacks to undermine democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary, accusing it of attempting to coerce the judiciary into compliance with its electoral agenda.
The statement expressed concern over the PDP’s hallucinations about a one-party state, attributing it to the party’s unrealized plan to rule Nigeria for 60 years. APC accused the PDP of attempting to tarnish its image with its own intolerant and anti-democratic tactics.
Highlighting what it sees as a significant threat to democracy, the APC condemned the PDP’s consistent criticism of the courts and judges. The party argued that the PDP, despite benefiting from the judiciary’s independence since Nigeria’s return to civilian democracy in 1999, now maliciously attacks judges whenever court decisions go against it.
APC accused the PDP of hypocrisy, noting that the party vehemently protests unfavourable court judgments but celebrates those in its favour. The statement called out the PDP for losing its essence and purpose, portraying it as a liability to partisan democracy.
Contrasting the roles of opposition parties in other democracies, the APC suggested that the PDP should focus on offering constructive solutions to national challenges rather than rallying opposition parties into a phantom coalition. The APC urged the PDP to undertake critical introspection and reinvent itself instead of blaming the judiciary and others for its self-inflicted challenges or consider winding down altogether to save partisan democracy from embarrassment.