Defections: Democracy terribly threatened, says PDP
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the constriction of the political space by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is pushing Nigeria towards “electoral authoritarianism”.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said democracy is under severe attack and terribly threatened by the defections to the APC.
The statement, which was in reaction to the defection of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the PDP to APC, warned that Nigeria is gradually moving to a one-party state.
“Furthermore, the Rivers situation is a testament to the dysfunctional nature of our democracy, where individuals are bigger and stronger than institutions and can use the apparatus of the Federal Government to obfuscate political life out of their opponents and bring them to their knees. Democracy is terribly threatened by acts of this kind, and all well-meaning people should unify in condemning this progressive decline of democratic norms.
“Finally, we reiterate to Nigerians and the global community that with the unrelenting disposition of the ruling party towards the attainment of a one-party state, and the constriction of the political space, democracy is under severe attack in Nigeria. Everyone must rise together to oppose this ignoble trip toward electoral authoritarianism.”
The PDP expressed pity and disappointment over the governor’s defection.
It said Fubara willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination and should not turn around and accuse the PDP or any other person or group of abandoning or not protecting him.
The PDP accused the governor of suffering from “temporary amnesia caused by trauma”, otherwise he should be praising the party, civil society organisations, and all Nigerians who freely stood up in his defence since the Rivers political crisis started until he capitulated.
“It is our prayer that the Governor should not suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, where a victim falls in love with his captor. In all, despite these, we pity the Governor and wish him well.”
