Says Nigeria’s democracy is on trial, warns against partisan confirmation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Nigerian Senate to rise above partisan considerations and thoroughly scrutinise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominee for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that Nigeria’s democracy is “on trial.”

Addressing a press briefing at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, emphasised that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system rests heavily on the independence and impartiality of INEC and warned the upper legislative chamber not to act as a rubber stamp.

President Tinubu had, on Thursday, submitted the name of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) to the National Council of State for approval as INEC chairman, following the expiration of the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who held the position from 2015 to October 2025. The Council unanimously endorsed the nomination, paving the way for the Senate screening.

Ologunagba, however, charged the Senate to discharge its constitutional responsibility with diligence and integrity, noting that Nigerians are watching closely.
“What we expect is that the Senate will do its job,” he said. “If the nominee is found worthy of confirmation, then he must be guided by the urgent need to strengthen democracy, rebuild public confidence in the electoral system, and eliminate widespread doubts surrounding the commission’s credibility.”

The PDP spokesman added that while the president retains the constitutional right to nominate a candidate for the INEC top job, the Senate must serve as “the last line of defence for democracy.”
“We recognise that our constitution empowers the president to nominate, in consultation with the Council of State. That process has been followed.

But the Constitution also entrusts the Senate with the critical role of confirming such a nominee on behalf of the Nigerian people. That responsibility must not be trivialised.”

According to him, the PDP believes in building strong democratic institutions, not strong individuals, and urged the Senate to prioritise national interest above party loyalty.
“When institutions are allowed to function independently, the personalities occupying them become secondary,” he said. “We established that tradition during our time in office, and we expect nothing less from those in power today.”

Ologunagba said the stakes are high, both for Nigeria and the international community watching from afar, as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.
“INEC has received tremendous international support. The world is watching. Nigerians are no longer willing to tolerate excuses or inefficiencies from the commission. The days of non-inclusive elections are over.”

Turning to recent reports of defections from the PDP, Ologunagba dismissed the narrative as a ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to create a false impression of instability within the opposition.

He accused the APC of resorting to intimidation and financial inducements to lure lawmakers, claiming that massive sums were allegedly being offered to PDP members in the National Assembly to defect.
“These defections are not borne out of ideology or principle; they are induced — pure and simple,” he said. “It has been the modus operandi of the APC — coercion, intimidation, and harassment.”

He, however, insisted that defections would not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections. Rather, he said, the elections would reflect Nigerians’ discontent over worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and poor governance.
“What will shape 2027 is not how many people decamp. It is the insecurity that has gripped every corner of our country. It is the economic hardship that has made life unbearable for the average Nigerian. It is the failure of a government that is not responsive to the cries of the people.”

Ologunagba said the ruling party had grown increasingly uneasy over the PDP’s unity and preparations ahead of its national convention.
“The APC is jittery because the PDP is moving steadily towards its convention. That unity frightens them. But they will be disappointed. We are together, and we are focused.”

Taking a swipe at the APC’s governance record, the PDP spokesman stated that Nigerians were not interested in political defections, but rather in escaping hunger and poverty.
“Nigerians have not decamped from hunger — but they certainly want to,” he said. “And when they do, they will come to the PDP — a party of prosperity, of hope, and of the people. That’s not just a slogan; it’s backed by our track record.”

He concluded with a symbolic comparison of the parties, saying, “The PDP is about people. The APC is about a congress that takes care of its own. But the people are with us. And in 2027, these APC people we see today — we shall see them no more.”