PDP accuses FG of clamping down on opposition

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from a meeting, yesterday, alerting Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Federal Government have commenced “a vicious and direct clampdown of major opposition leaders, perceived political opponents and individuals with interests and views that are divergent to those of President Muhammadu Buhari, ahead of the 2019 general elections.”

At a press conference addressed by the PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, and attended by the national secretary, Senator Umar Tsauri, at the national secretariat, the party said: “The clampdown is tailored towards silencing the opposition, as well as those who refused to join or support the APC in their unlawful design to emasculate other political parties, undermine our laws and electoral system, foist a one-party state and perpetuate their incompetent, dysfunctional and anti-people rule on our nation.

“It is instructive for Nigerians that our leaders, particularly our national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, have been receiving threats since the PDP filed a petition to the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations, detailing documented threats to democracy by the APC and its Federal Government, abuse of human rights, mass killings, extra-judicial executions, persecution of opposition and unabated constitutional violations.

“The PDP is aware of clandestine plots against key opposition leaders, particularly members of the PDP National Working Committee, some dissenting members of the APC, members of the civil society, opinion leaders, journalists and bloggers, who refuse to succumb to intimidation, and that such persons have already been listed and are currently being trailed by agents of the state.”

The PDP asked Nigerians and the international community to know those to hold responsible should PDP leaders, as well as other members of the opposition start falling victims of untoward situations like assassinations, unexplained accidents, inexplicable ‘armed robbery’ attacks, high profile abduction and sudden disappearances.

It said the clampdown could also take the form of wanton arrests, manhandling and detention of opposition leaders on trumped-up charges, as well as illegal invasion of their homes and businesses by agents of the state.