PDP Warns Against One-Party State, Calls on Nigerians to Resist Tinubu, APC on June 12

Nigerians have been asked by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to mobilize and fortify their opposition to the anti-democratic plans of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly the scheme to impose a totalitarian One-Party government on the country on June 12th, Democracy Day.

To commemorate 2025 Democracy Day, the PDP issued a statement calling on Nigerians, democratic institutions, organized civil society, development partners, and all other supporters of democracy to stand together and speak out against the suppression of democratic principles, including the rule of law, justice, a free, fair, peaceful, and credible election process, and the right of citizens, especially to freely engage in politics and governance in Nigeria.

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The APC government’s “anti-democratic actions, which continue 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 the nation into a fiefdom and personal estate of few individuals in power,” the party said, expressing alarm.

The opposition party claims that the APC-led Presidency has remained unaccountable while conspiring with the dishonest, rubber stamp APC leadership in the National Assembly and some compromised judicial officers in very high places to erode popular sovereignty, supposedly in order to pave the way for the establishment of a totalitarian regime in our nation.

“Among other constitutional violations, the egregious use of state capture, as demonstrated by the subversion of the electorate’s will in the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election, the widely denounced overthrow of a democratically elected government, and the imposition of a sole administrator in Rivers State, all point to a clear and present threat to our democracy.”

Therefore, June 12th Democracy Day symbolizes Nigerians’ fight against a repressive, autocratic, and lawless regime that is fueled by high levels of deceit, impunity, and heedless anti-people sentiments, as evidenced by the APC government. It also symbolizes the Nigerian people’s desire for a government that is answerable to the people, based on the Rule of Law, and upholds the democratic values of freedom, justice, equity, fairness, and national unity, as well as accountability and transparency in government—principles that Chief MKO Abiola personified and sacrificed his life for.

“The Peoples Democratic Party provided Nigerians with these democratic values. Since the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) appeared on the scene posing as the APC, all have painfully avoided the country, according to the statement.

Therefore, by upholding the Principle of Separation of Powers, the opposition party encouraged the APC administration to honor Chief Abiola’s memory, the law, and the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.

Additionally, it requested that the administration halt interference in the operations of the National Assembly and other democratic institutions, especially the judiciary, Independent National Electoral Commission, and INEC; permit a free press; pledge to hold credible elections; be honest and open; and examine all of its policies that use poverty as a weapon.

The PDP urged INEC, the National Assembly, and the judiciary to declare their constitutional independence and function solely in accordance with the Rule of Law and the public interest in advancing democratic principles.