As Nigeria marks Democracy Day to commemorate the restoration of democracy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as “state capture” under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, accusing it of systematically compromising Nigeria’s key democratic institutions, including the National Assembly, the Judiciary, and electoral bodies.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP alleged that the APC has embarked on a coordinated campaign to dismantle democratic checks and balances, silence opposition voices, and concentrate power in the hands of a few elite individuals, thereby endangering the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.
According to the PDP, the disturbing trend of state capture is evident in the alleged collusion between the executive arm and what it calls a “rubber-stamp” National Assembly, as well as in the actions of certain compromised judicial officers who, it claims, now act in ways that erode public confidence in the rule of law.
“The National Assembly has increasingly failed to act as an independent arm of government, often rubber-stamping executive excesses rather than holding it accountable,” the statement read. “Similarly, certain judicial rulings in recent times suggest deep compromise, raising fears about the erosion of judicial independence.”
The PDP also pointed to what it described as the subversion of democratic processes in Edo and Rivers States, including the imposition of unelected administrators and the undermining of elected officials, as alarming signs of authoritarian tendencies.
Beyond institutional compromise, the PDP accused the APC government of “weaponising poverty” as a political tool to suppress dissent and control the populace. By maintaining economic hardship and failing to implement effective social welfare policies, the party argued, the government has created conditions that make it difficult for Nigerians to demand accountability.
“The deliberate impoverishment of the people through anti-people policies, inflation, and economic mismanagement is being used as a tool to weaken their resistance and impose a defeatist mentality,” the PDP stated. “This tactic is not just insensitive—it is a threat to national stability.”
The PDP used the Democracy Day message to call on Nigerians, civil society organizations, and development partners to resist these trends and recommit to democratic values. It urged all stakeholders to demand accountability, insist on the separation of powers, and defend the right of every Nigerian to participate freely and fairly in governance.
“June 12 is not just a date; it is a symbol of resistance against tyranny and the insistence on a Nigeria governed by justice, equity, and the rule of law,” the statement said. “We must not allow the current trajectory to continue unchecked.”
The PDP reaffirmed its readiness to challenge what it describes as the APC’s creeping authoritarianism and pledged to continue mobilizing for a stronger, more transparent democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As Nigeria reflects on the legacy of Chief MKO Abiola and others who paid the ultimate price for democracy, the PDP’s warning adds to growing national debates about the state of governance, institutional independence, and economic justice in the country.
