The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond his usual rhetoric and take practical steps to guarantee the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections in 2023.
The party therefore urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the June 12 Democracy Day to reaffirm their determination to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections which it described as anti-democratic.
The national publicity secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, added that Nigerians were now, more than ever before, determined to fully entrench the democratic demands of credible elections, which was at the core of the Democracy Day celebration.
Ologunagba in a statement marking the June 12 Democracy Day commendation, said it “embodies the struggle by Nigerians against corrupt, suppressive and dictatorial forces; against lawless, insensitive, anti-people and terrorism-promoting regime, against injustice, high-handedness, recklessness and incurable impunity, all which the APC has come to represent.
“It is unpardonable that the APC administration has arrogantly continued to violate and trample on the substance, value and quintessence of June 12 Democracy Day; the democratic principles of constitutional order, freedom, justice, fairness and equity as well as the much-desired national cohesion and tolerance which Chief MKO Abiola personified and died for.
“Our party cautions the APC to stop testing the Will of Nigerians with its continued abuse of process, violation of human rights, nepotism, electoral manipulations, stifling of freedom of speech, promotion of violence; the very pattern of the dark era of military dictatorship in our country, which Chief MKO Abiola fought against.”
The PDP further demanded that President Buhari should take steps to check the use of security agencies and thugs to suppress voters in addition to guaranteeing that only votes cast at the polling units are transmitted and declared.
“President Buhari by now should know that Nigerians have rejected his party, the APC and that the outcome of the 2023 general elections must not speak otherwise.
“Our party urges all leaders across the country to reflect on the essence of June 12 in all their activities so as to build a nation guided by the democratic principles of the Rule of Law, mutual respect and unity of purpose.
“The PDP prays for the nation and wishes Nigerians a successful Democracy Day celebration,” the PDP spokesman added.
