PDP Accuses Tinubu Government of Undermining Democracy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of weakening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and moving the country towards authoritarian rule.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, following a recent assessment by the Human Rights Foundation.

The PDP said the report, published on the foundation’s Tyranny Tracker platform, reflected concerns over Nigeria’s electoral process, freedom of expression, institutional checks and balances and the protection of dissent.

The party argued that several features associated with authoritarian governments, including weak elections, restrictions on free speech, targeting of opposition figures and limited institutional oversight, were increasingly evident in Nigeria.

It cited recent criticism of Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and the Catholic Church by officials and supporters of the administration as an example of what it described as the suppression of dissent and freedom of expression.

The opposition party also accused the National Assembly of failing to effectively check the executive, alleging that lawmakers had not sufficiently challenged issues surrounding the implementation of government budgets and other executive actions.

The PDP further expressed concern over the 2027 elections, alleging that security agencies were being used against political opponents and that the electoral process was increasingly becoming partisan. It urged the Tinubu administration to stop actions capable of heightening political tensions.

The party warned that while political actors might seek to win the 2027 presidential election, the country’s democratic stability must not be sacrificed in the process. It called on Nigerians to continue demanding accountability and urged the government to ensure a free, fair, credible and peaceful electoral process.