The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the unrelenting media
trial and persecution of opposition members and other perceived
political opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the
guise of fight against corruption.
The party issued a statement on Saturday signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan.
He wrote: “Whereas the PDP is in no way opposed to the fight against corruption, we
are completely against government’s resort to media trial, constant
harassment, unlawful detention and trumped up charges against opposition
members, using various agencies, particularly, the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The PDP particularly rejects the emerging trend by the EFCC, wherein
accused persons and individuals who are still under investigation on
alleged corruption charges are paraded and forced to hang criminal tags,
as meted out to former Kaduna State Governor Muktar Yero, even when such
persons have not been convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction.
“The PDP is totally against the desperation by the EFCC, working under
the instruction of the APC, to declare a guilty verdict on accused
persons without trial by the courts, all in the bid to bring perceived
political opponents to public odium and emasculate the opposition ahead
of 2019 general elections.
“The PDP also rejects the direct interference in on-going cases,
including those in court, by appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari,
particularly, members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on
Corruption, whose comments and actions have continued to escalate media
trials and other irregularities in the handling of such cases.
“The PDP insists, in very unequivocal terms, that we can no longer
continue to stomach the hijacking of the duties of the judiciary by
agencies of the executive under the instructions of the Presidency.
“Nigerians will recall that the PDP had earlier raised the alarm over
this unrelenting assault, harassment and persecution of opposition
members under the guise of fight against corruption.
“This reckless abuse and violation of procedures of the law by the APC is
a clear recipe for civil unrest in our nation, if it does not stop.
“The fight against corruption must be prosecuted within the ambit of the
provisions of the law and not as an instrument of persecution and
clampdown against the opposition. Enough is enough!”