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By Myke Agunwa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the June 12 Democracy Day to strengthen their resistance to the anti-democratic designs of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly the plot to foist a One-Party regime in Nigeria.
The PDP called on the ruling party to respect the memory of Chief Abiola, the law and the sovereignty of the Nigerian people by adhering to the Principle of Separation of Powers, end the intrusion in the activities of the National Assembly and other democratic institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary, allow for a free press, commit to credible elections, be truthful, transparent and review all its poverty weaponizing policies.
The party called on the National Assembly, the Judiciary and INEC to assert their Constitutional Independence and operate only on the basis of the Rule of Law and the collective interest of the people in the promotion of the tenets of democracy.
The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba to mark Democracy Day on Thursday, urges Nigerians, Institutions of Democracy, Organized Civil Society, Development Partners and indeed all lovers of democracy to unite in speaking out against the stifling of democratic tenets of justice, the Rule of Law, free, fair, peaceful credible electoral process and the right of citizens particularly to freely participate in politics and governance in Nigeria.
He said that “The PDP is alarmed by the anti-democratic actions of the APC government which continues to use compromised state apparatus of powers and control to brazenly violate the Constitution, emasculate opposition, defy and abridge the liberty of the citizens to freely elect their leaders, corrupt and manipulate Institutions of Democracy, asphyxiate the media and weaponize poverty, all in the attempt to impose a defeatist mentality on the people and turn our nation into a fiefdom and personal estate of few individuals in power.
“More distressing is that the APC-led Presidency has remained unaccountable while colluding with the corrupt, rubber stamp APC leadership in the National Assembly and certain compromised Judicial officers at very high places to undermine the sovereignty of the people ostensibly to clear the path for a totalitarian system in our country.
“The brazen resort to State Capture as exemplified in the subversion of the Will of the people in the 2024 Edo State Governorship election, the widely condemned overthrow of a democratically elected government and imposition of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State in blatant violation of the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution among other Constitutional infractions signpost a clear and present danger to our democracy”.
The main opposition party said that “June 12 Democracy Day embodies the struggle by Nigerians against an oppressive, despotic and lawless system driven by impunity, high level deception and reckless anti-people tendencies as being witnessed under the APC administration.
“It also represents the insistence by Nigerians for a system that is accountable to the people, operates on the Rule of Law and democratic principles of freedom, justice, fairness, equity, credible elections, national cohesion, transparency and accountability in government which Chief MKO Abiola personified and died for”.
He said the above democrtic values were enjoyed by Nigerians enjoyed under the PDP administration but lamented that it has eluded the nation since the APC took over the management of the affairs of the state.
While congratulates Nigerians, PDP urged citizens not to allow the plot of some individual or group to destroy their confidence in Democracy but remain law-abiding and continue to rally with the party as it reposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Recall that Nigeria shifted Democracy Day celebration from May 29 to June 12 to honor the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, won by Moshood Abiola.
In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari officially declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day, recognizing Abiola’s struggle and sacrifice. The change became effective from June 12, 2019. This move corrected historical injustice, acknowledged democratic resilience, and aligned national celebration with the people’s democratic aspirations rather than just a change of government, as May 29 had merely signified.
In 2025, former Nigerian military leader Ibrahim Babangida who annulled the election, publicly admitted that MKO Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election. In his autobiography “A Journey in Service”, Babangida confirmed that Abiola met all constitutional requirements, securing majority votes and sufficient geographical spread. He revealed Abiola received over 8 million votes, defeating Bashir Tofa. Babangida described the annulment as a painful mistake and an “accident of history,” expressing deep regret over the decision.
This admission, coming decades later, validated a long-held public belief and reinforced June 12 significance as a symbol of true democracy in Nigeria.