The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reviewed the outcome of Tuesday’s
National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and surmised that the ruling party has finally collapsed.
The PDP also noted that the confusion, impunity and lawlessness in the
APC has further exposed the failure of the Buhari-led Presidency, adding
that this accounts for its rejection by Nigerians ahead of the 2019
polls.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Wednesday said
the APC has ultimately lost its soul and can no longer be reckoned with
as a political party, having been hijacked by the Presidency cabal.
The party alleged that the Cabal in the Presidency has overthrown its
constitution, suppressed dissenting voices and now imposing a
dictatorial regime within its ranks, reminiscent of a military coup.
The PDP said the development in the APC has further exposed the
desperation by the Buhari Presidency to seize the political space, even
within their party.
“Nigerians watched with rude shock as President Muhammadu Buhari, the
African Union anti-corruption champion, directly superintended over the
worst kind of corruption in a political party by overthrowing its
constitution and democratic processes, all in the bid to shut out other
contenders in the Presidential race, a development which further
confirms that the President has lost popularity even in his own party.
“We invite all to note that whereas the APC constitution provides for a
four year tenure for officials of its organs and enshrined a re-election
or reappointment at the expiration of the said tenure, the Buhari
Presidency muzzled the APC NEC and imposed an illegal one year tenure
extension for the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working
Committee, a fiat that is not provided for in the party’s constitution.
“The APC is so dysfunctional that under the grip of the Presidency cabal,
the party in contravention of its own constitution does not have a Board
of Trustees (BOT), which explains the reason it lacks conscience and
failed completely in delivering good governance to the nation.
“Worst still, while its constitution provides for quarterly NEC meetings,
the party has only held five since its formation in 2014.
“From the outcome of the Tuesday’s APC NEC meeting, it is clear that the
party has finally collapsed, lost all democratic credentials and can no
longer provide level playing ground for its members or even other
Nigerians to freely aspire for any position of their choice,
particularly, the Presidency, Governorship and National Assembly
positions in the 2019 general elections.
“It is now certain that the APC is no longer a credible platform but an
appropriated one, where only those anointed by the Presidency cabal can
have the opportunity to aspire for any position within its ranks. The
APC has been seized and is irredeemably damaged ahead of the 2019
general elections.
“Furthermore, the confusion and lawlessness that were the hallmarks of
the outcome of the APC caucus and NEC meeting signpost the failures
inherent in the incompetent, blundering and corrupt Buhari-led
administration which has brought so much hardship and violence to our
dear nation.
“This gives a strong insight into why the APC government was not able to
adequately aggregate the issues, assemble the right economic team and
muster the desired expertise, with appropriate programs and policies to
run the much desired productive government in almost three years.
“We therefore urge all Nigerians of good faith still in the APC to note
that their platform has lost it all and as such take the bold steps to
save our nation’s democracy.
“On our own part, the repositioned and rebranded PDP remains open as the
only credible platform for the much desired new national political
engagement where all Nigerians can freely and democratically aspire to
any position of their choice, be it the highest in the country without
any let or hinderance.
The PDP therefore calls on the APC to note its self-inflicted doom and
be ready to accept the inevitable defeat come 2019.”
