Get Guardian on GoogleThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that Nigeria is heading towards a dangerous political crisis capable of undermining democratic governance, urging President Bola Tinubu to urgently condemn political violence and rein in suspected supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party said the growing attacks on opposition politicians, intimidation of supporters, denial of access to public facilities for campaigns and alleged manipulation of judicial processes were threatening the country’s democratic survival ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National Chairman of the Turaki-led faction of the PDP, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), raised the alarm in Abuja during a press conference, warning that the country’s political temperature was becoming dangerously high.
He called on Tinubu to demonstrate responsible leadership by placing national stability above partisan interests, insisting that Nigeria’s survival was more important than the political ambition of any individual.
Turaki, who described the unfolding political developments as a threat to democratic consolidation, drew parallels with the First and Second Republics, arguing that the suppression of opposition parties and manipulation of political processes contributed to the collapse of both republics.
He recalled that political intolerance and engineered crises in opposition parties preceded the collapse of the First Republic, while the Second Republic witnessed the use of coercive tactics and questionable judicial interventions to weaken opposition forces.
According to him, the current political environment suggests that the country is once again travelling along a dangerous path characterised by shrinking political space, violence against opposition figures, inducement of opposition leaders and the increasing judicialisation of politics.
“Today, the governing party, the All Progressives Congress, and the Presidency, led by a pseudo-democrat, are speeding down the infamous lane that leads to democratic destruction,” he said.
The PDP chairman cited findings from Yiaga Africa’s third National Voting Intentions Survey (NVIS 3.0), released on October 7, 2026, which indicated declining public confidence in electoral institutions.
He said although 84 per cent of Nigerians surveyed indicated that they were likely or very likely to vote, 61 per cent expressed fears that violence could prevent them from participating in the elections.
Turaki also noted that only 34 per cent of respondents expressed confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections, compared with 45 per cent in the two previous survey rounds.
He added that 63 per cent had little or no confidence in the judiciary’s ability to resolve electoral disputes fairly, with the figure rising to 81 per cent in the South-South.
Describing the findings as disturbing, he said the government should treat the growing public anxiety as a wake-up call and take urgent measures to restore confidence in the electoral process.
He said the low voter turnout recorded during the 2023 presidential election should serve as a warning, noting that fewer than 28 per cent of registered voters participated in the exercise.
According to him, President Tinubu secured his mandate with about 8.8 million votes out of 93.4 million registered voters, representing what he described as a narrow electoral base.
The PDP chairman further accused the APC of deploying violence and intimidation to weaken opposition parties, citing alleged attacks on supporters of Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in different states, including Delta.
He also alleged that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) encountered resistance while attempting to enter Sokoto State for political activities and were denied access to facilities for their campaigns.
Turaki equally cited the reported attack on activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, in Ekiti State, alleging that suspected APC operatives were behind the incidents.
He condemned what he described as a growing culture of political intolerance, warning that the deployment of violence to secure electoral victories could undermine the legitimacy of any government that emerges from the process.
The PDP chairman also accused the ruling party of using judicial processes to destabilise opposition parties, alleging that court cases and judgments had been deployed to create obstacles for opposition platforms.
He expressed concern over what he described as the use of the judiciary to resolve political questions in ways that allegedly favour the ruling party, adding that some opposition figures benefiting from the situation were supporters of the APC-backed Rainbow Coalition.
Turaki also faulted alleged threats by public officials against voters who refused to support the ruling party, insisting that Nigerians must be allowed to freely choose their leaders without intimidation or coercion.
He warned that while political actors might succeed in imposing electoral outcomes, they could not compel Nigerians to accept or legitimise such outcomes.
“There are two elections coming up: the first for the heart of the country, and the second for the office of the President. The President and his people are clearly working only for the latter, the office of the President, and not the former, winning the hearts and minds of citizens,” he said.
He added that any electoral victory secured through intimidation, violence or manipulation could ultimately become a pyrrhic victory if the government lost the confidence and goodwill of the people.
Responding to questions from journalists, Turaki contrasted the political rhetoric of successive leaders, recalling former President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration ahead of the 2015 presidential election that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
He also recalled a former APC leader’s controversial warning that the 2015 election could leave the country soaked in blood if he was not elected, contrasting it with Tinubu’s reported remarks that elections were not a tea party and that political victories had to be grabbed, snatched and run away with.
According to Turaki, such statements could encourage political supporters to resort to violence and other unlawful means to secure electoral victories.
He warned that Nigeria, with an estimated population of about 250 million, could face serious humanitarian consequences if political tensions escalated into widespread violence.
The PDP chairman, therefore, called on Tinubu to publicly and unequivocally condemn political violence and ensure that anyone implicated in attacks on opposition candidates and supporters was investigated and prosecuted, irrespective of political affiliation.
He also demanded that security agencies, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), publish a comprehensive security plan for the elections and guarantee the safety of candidates, campaign rallies and voters.
Other demands included an end to the denial of public facilities to opposition parties for campaign activities, a halt to threats against voters, and urgent action by INEC to address alleged discrepancies and false inclusions in the voters’ register.
He further urged the judiciary to dispense justice strictly in accordance with the law rather than political or executive interests.
Supporting the PDP chairman’s appeal, former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, urged Tinubu to rise above partisan considerations and discharge his constitutional responsibilities as President, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Gana argued that the President’s responsibility extended beyond protecting the interests of the APC, stressing that he must act as the father of the nation whenever the country’s unity, peace and stability were threatened.
He said Tinubu should demonstrate statesmanship by intervening in developments capable of plunging the country into crisis, even where such intervention might not serve the immediate political interests of his party.
“Mr Chairman is appealing to the President to be a statesman at this point in time, not just purely a politician to grab power and move,” Gana said.
He warned that securing political power in an atmosphere of national instability would amount to little if the country itself was plunged into crisis.
Gana also cautioned against the temptation to respond to political violence with counter-violence, saying although the PDP had the capacity to defend itself politically, it was unwilling to pursue a path that could endanger the country.
“We are a legacy party, we know the game very, very well. If you wanted to go and say you want to promote violence and we wanted to answer by violence, it can be done. But we don’t want to do that, because it’s not good for Nigeria,” he said.
He maintained that the President must prioritise the health, security, integrity and stability of the country above partisan calculations.
Turaki, however, urged Nigerians not to surrender in the defence of democracy, calling on citizens to demand accountability, responsible leadership and the dividends of democracy.
He said the 2027 elections offered Nigerians an opportunity to elect leaders committed to placing the interests of the people above personal and political ambitions.
