Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concerns over what he perceives as attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine Nigeria’s democracy through subterfuge. Atiku, through his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, issued a statement in Abuja, highlighting the APC’s agenda of opposition parties’ mandate “snatch, grab, and run,” which he considers detrimental to democracy.
Atiku emphasized the importance of democracy rooted in the plurality of ideas, stating that for a system to be truly democratic, it must accommodate opposition and diverse views. He observed a narrowing of opposition engagement in Nigeria, either through rigged elections or a judiciary seemingly aligned with the ruling party’s interests.
The statement highlighted controversial court declarations in states controlled by opposition parties, raising concerns about compromised democracy. Atiku pointed out instances in Nasarawa, Kano, Zamfara, and Plateau states, where he believes controversial judicial decisions favor the ruling party.
He noted the ominous signs that threaten faith in the electoral and judicial systems and suggested that the ruling party’s ideology of “snatch, grab, and run away with power” is worrisome. Atiku cited examples from Lagos State, where opposition became anathema under Tinubu’s influence, employing crude methods to diminish the opposition’s ranks.
The statement also questioned the circumstances surrounding election petition cases in Plateau State, raising suspicions about the consistency of court decisions. Atiku, echoing concerns shared by legal experts, criticized recent judgments, describing the judiciary as compromised and questioning its integrity.
Atiku urged Nigerians to be vigilant in defending democracy against the alleged onslaught by the APC, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to rescue the democratic process from what he characterized as power grabbers. He concluded, “Eternal vigilance remains the watchword if Nigeria’s democracy will survive the APC onslaught on our democracy and the institutions that are supposed to check the excesses of the ruling party.”
