Buhari, APC stifling democratic institutions –PDP

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged concerted efforts by All Pro­gressives Party (APC) and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to stifle democratic institutions and impose totalitarian re­gime on the country.

National Publicity Sec­retary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, made the allegation in a statement at the week­end.

Metuh cited what he de­scribed as the tardiness in appointing a substantive chairman for the Indepen­dent National Electoral Commissioners (INEC), absence of electoral com­missioners in 11 states of the federation, and an alleged interference by the De­partment of State Services (DSS) in the activities of election tribunals in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom as some of the perceived excesses of the Federal Government.

It further claimed that the absence of a substantive cabinet under the APC-led administration was a de­scent to autocracy.

The main opposition par­ty admonished the APC and the Presidency not to tram­ple on democratic institu­tions, as it noted that was the legacy of the PDP 16 years in power.

The statement read in part: “The PDP, after a thor­ough review of the political developments in the country since the APC took power at the centre, alerts all Ni­gerians and the international community that all is not well with the nation’s de­mocracy.”

The party said this fear was derived from the facts of some conscious actions and inactions of the Buhari-led APC government that undermined critical institu­tions of democracy, emas­culated the constitution and ostensibly set the stage for a return of dictatorial regime in the country.

Metuh, in a statement yes­terday said despite claims of being a converted democrat, President Buhari had al­lowed, under his watch, an incessant violation of sec­tions of the nation’s consti­tution, a development that had become a huge threat to democracy and the stability of the nation.

“For instance, how can this government explain the fact that a major institution of democracy like the INEC has been deliberately debili­tated to the extent that it can no longer perform its statu­tory responsibility for lack of quorum?

“Nigerians are aware that before his tenure expired on June 30, 2015, the former INEC chairman, Prof. Atta­hiru Jega, wrote to President Buhari, intimating him that the tenure of majority of the national commissioners will expire before August, yet the president never acted, result­ing in the present crisis in the commission, where more than 80 percent of the statu­tory 13 members remain va­cant, even as 11 states of the federation are also without Resident Electoral Commis­sioners (REC).”