PDP Accuses APC’s Leadership Of Anti-Democratic Tendencies

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) of being self-centred and dictatorial, warning that the growing anti-democratic behaviour of the opposition party if not checked could undermine the entire democratic structure.
  In a statement on Saturday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, also described APC leaders as “incurable despots who have since instituted a reign of impunity characterised by brazen dictatorship, imposition and victimisation within the APC”.
The ruling political party also cautioned that “those expecting free and fair primaries for the selection of APC candidates for the 2015 general election to wake up to reality before it becomes too late”.
It advised all lovers of democracy still in the APC to immediately quit as they are not likely to enjoy any democratic tenet under despotic leaders who are not disposed to divergent views.
The PDP said the APC had shown itself to be “nothing but a party of ill-bred, frustrated and intolerant politicians; bad losers for whom resorting to personal attacks, blackmail and mudslinging, in addition to promoting violence has become an ideology”.
“That the APC is a party of self-centred and dictatorial politicians with no regard for democratic principles is well known to all. However, we have noted a disturbing pattern, wherein the APC leaders now resort to personal attacks on people when they dump their party.
“The vitriolic attacks, insults and threats on former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, his Sokoto State counterpart, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode and several others who were labelled ‘traitors and political misfits’ by APC leaders when they left the party easily come to mind.
“Nigerians ponder. Why is it that the APC only realises that their members are traitors and misfits when they exercise their freedom of association and leave due to its undemocratic, destructive and anti-people agenda?
“One notable example is the recent attack by the APC’s unelected Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, against their former member, Chief Tom Ikimi, who he branded a ‘sellout’ and ‘unreliable’ personality because he left their fold,” the statement read.
The ruling party questioned why Tinubu had not voiced his claims that Mr Ikimi was unreliable and a sell-out who could not be trusted with the leadership of the APC before he left the party.
“Did Tinubu not know all these when Ikimi was selected to lead the negotiation for the merger agreement that resulted in the formation of the APC?” the party questioned.
It also berated Tinubu for boasting that he will produce his party’s presidential candidate in the 2015 general election, an action that exposes his contempt for democratic due process and the worthlessness of any selection process that may be organised by the APC.
Noting that those who resist the impunity in the APC are continuously victimised, thoroughly insulted and branded, the PDP, however, urged all well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy still in the APC to be bold and leave before it becomes too late.
It also advised the APC leaders to learn to be more decorous, eschew bitterness in their dealings and understand that in a democracy, citizens must at all times be allowed to freely exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The party said it would not relent in its effort in putting it right before the APC, as Nigeria’s democracy needed a virile opposition.