Mark Aba, Abuja
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Interim National Working Committee, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, (SAN), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to urgently address rising political tension in the country, warning that Nigeria is approaching a dangerous point for its democratic survival.
Turaki, who said ‘Nigeria is boiling,’ gave the warning on Sunday during a press conference in Abuja, where he accused the APC-led Federal Government of using state institutions, particularly the judiciary, to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He warned that the alleged political persecution of opposition figures and parties could trigger serious consequences if not urgently addressed.
The PDP chairman recalled what he described as the deployment of conventional and unconventional tactics to secure a “moonslide victory” by using coercive means to install political leadership in opposition strongholds.
He also accused the judiciary of contributing to the problem through judgments which, according to him, did not reflect the choices expressed by voters at the polls.
Explaining the rationale for the press conference, Turaki said the PDP was drawing lessons from history to caution against developments capable of undermining democratic governance.
Quoting Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana, he said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
He accused the Tinubu administration of shrinking the political space through alleged violence against opposition members, inducement and co-option of opposition leaders, as well as what he termed the judicialisation of politics.
According to him, such practices could weaken democratic institutions and pave the way for authoritarian rule.
“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.
Turaki also expressed concern over declining public confidence in the electoral process, citing Yiaga Africa’s third National Voting Intentions Survey (NVIS 3.0), released on October 7, 2026.
He said the survey showed that although 84 per cent of Nigerians were likely or very likely to vote, 61 per cent feared that electoral violence could discourage them from participating in the elections.
He further noted that only 34 per cent of respondents expressed confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections, while 63 per cent had little or no confidence in the judiciary’s capacity to resolve electoral disputes fairly.
He argued that the findings should compel the Federal Government and relevant institutions to take immediate steps to restore public confidence and guarantee peaceful elections.
The PDP leader also questioned the strength of President Tinubu’s electoral mandate in 2023, arguing that the President secured approximately 8.8 million votes out of about 93.4 million registered voters, amid a turnout of less than 28 per cent.
He warned that voter apathy could become more pronounced in 2027 if concerns over insecurity, electoral credibility and political intimidation remained unresolved.
On alleged attacks against opposition members, Turaki cited incidents involving supporters of Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in different states, including Delta.
He also alleged that campaign convoys of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had faced attempts to prevent their entry into Sokoto State.
Similarly, he cited the reported attack on former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in Ekiti State, accusing suspected APC supporters of involvement in the incidents.
Turaki further alleged that the ruling party was using the courts to create obstacles for opposition parties through multiple litigations and judgments that had contributed to their derecognition, deregistration and internal crises.
He insisted that Nigerians must be allowed to freely choose their leaders without intimidation, alleging that some public officials had threatened voters with expulsion from their communities if they failed to support the APC.
Describing the alleged threats and attacks as dangerous to democratic consolidation, he accused the ruling party of employing different strategies to weaken opposition parties and undermine competitive elections.
Addressing President Tinubu, his aides, INEC and security agencies, Turaki warned that although authorities might impose electoral outcomes, they could not force Nigerians to accept such outcomes as legitimate.
Consequently, the PDP outlined a series of demands to the Federal Government and relevant institutions to address the situation.
The party called on President Tinubu to publicly and unequivocally condemn political violence and direct the investigation and prosecution of anyone implicated in attacks on opposition candidates and supporters, irrespective of political affiliation.
It also urged security agencies, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), to publish a comprehensive security plan for the 2027 elections and guarantee the safety of all candidates, campaign rallies and voters.
Other demands included ending the denial of public facilities to opposition parties for campaign activities, stopping public officials from threatening voters, and directing INEC to address alleged discrepancies and improper inclusions in the voters’ register.
Turaki also called on the judiciary to dispense justice strictly in accordance with the law, without political interference or executive influence.
He urged Nigerians to remain committed to defending democracy, stressing that citizens must continue to demand accountability, responsible leadership and the dividends of democratic governance.
“2027 offers a great opportunity for us to choose leaders who will put the people first,” he said.
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