The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of working to transform Nigeria into a one-party state through acts of intimidation, coercion, and state-backed suppression of the opposition.
This position was contained in a communiqué released at the end of the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which held on Monday in Abuja and was signed by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
In the statement, the opposition party condemned what it described as the APC’s resort to “state capture,” claiming that the ruling party was increasingly relying on intimidation, manipulation of state institutions, inducement, coercion, and outright violence to maintain control of the political space.
The PDP pointed particularly to the alleged militarisation and heavy-handed tactics deployed during the recent bye-elections in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara states, arguing that such practices not only undermine the electoral process but also threaten the very foundations of Nigeria’s democracy.
“NEC declares that this action by the APC is a confirmation of its desire to turn our country into a totalitarian one-party state, which is a clear and present danger to democracy and to the corporate existence of our nation,” the communiqué partly read.
The party warned that the growing trend of deploying state machinery against the people and opposition voices risks eroding public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions and may plunge the country into political instability.
Despite its criticisms, the PDP reassured Nigerians of its firm commitment to the principles of democracy, promising to continue repositioning itself to not only provide a credible opposition but also to reclaim power in the 2027 general elections.
The communiqué stressed that the party remains focused on rebuilding its structures nationwide, strengthening internal unity, and presenting itself as a more viable alternative to the ruling APC.
At the end of the session, the PDP NEC adjourned its meeting and scheduled its next gathering for October 15, 2025.
