In a bid to prevent Nigeria from slipping into a one-party state, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has issued a call for unity among opposition political parties. The statement was released by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Tuesday.
During a meeting with the national executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Atiku emphasized the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding democracy. Expressing concern over the growing dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he cautioned against the perils of a one-party system, stating, “If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn.”
Atiku urged IPAC’s leadership, led by National President Yabagi Sani, to foster a stronger alliance among opposition parties to counterbalance the current political landscape. He criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of conducting the worst general election in the country. Atiku specifically highlighted discrepancies in recent off-season elections, citing an instance in Kogi State where the total votes exceeded the accredited voters in a local government.
Taking a swipe at INEC, Atiku stated, “We all can see how INEC declared a result in Kogi State where the total number of votes cast is higher than the total number of accredited voters in one local government. We cannot have a healthy democracy in an environment where all INEC does is to deliver the ruling party at all cost.”
Additionally, Atiku called on opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly to prioritize legislation that advances constitutional and electoral reforms, particularly emphasizing the urgency of implementing electronic voting. He argued that other nations, less advanced than Nigeria, had already embraced electronic voting.
Yabagi Sani, speaking on behalf of IPAC, acknowledged the imperfections in the electoral system but maintained that democracy remains the best form of government. The call for unity among opposition forces underscores the collective effort required to address challenges and fortify Nigeria’s democratic foundations.