PDP disabilising Nigeria’s polity, Threat to Multiparty Democracy – Okechukwu

A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Okechukwu, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of destabilizing Nigeria’s polity and endangering the nation’s democratic framework.

Speaking on Sunday, the former Voice of Nigeria Director General issued a strongly worded statement, asserting that the PDP has fanned political unrest, contributed to the ongoing Rivers State crisis, and paved the way for a dangerous move toward a one-party system.

Okechukwu criticized the PDP for ignoring the rotation convention between the north and south during the 2023 presidential primary, accusing the party leadership of sowing discord and inflaming tensions by disregarding established rules. He warned against what he called “retrograde amnesia,” urging Nigerians not to forget how the PDP’s actions have undermined the fledgling democracy. According to him, adherence to constitutional provisions, such as Section 7, would have prevented incidents like the “Wike Masquerade” and preserved the delicate balance between the regions.

When asked if the APC was exploiting the PDP’s internal strife to push for a one-party state, Okechukwu shifted the blame to those elements within the PDP who abandoned the rotation convention—the very mechanism that has historically maintained regional balance. He argued that these illiberal factions are eroding the multiparty system by dismissing the complexities of northern electorates and enforcing an uneven presidential rotation that favors the south.

Okechukwu concluded that if the PDP had respected the rule of law and upheld the rotation convention, the outcome of the 2023 presidential election might have been very different for prominent candidates like Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso. His remarks underscore a growing concern among some political figures that the unchecked power and impunity of established parties are contributing to Nigeria’s ongoing democratic challenges.