ENUGU, NIGERIA (VOICE OF NIGERIA)- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over what it described as a shrinking democratic space in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that dissent is being deliberately and systematically suppressed under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.
The opposition party’s warning follows concerns earlier expressed by Amnesty International over an increasingly repressive environment for free expression in the country, a position later echoed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following the arrest of a young Nigerian, Abubakar Salim Musa.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said on Monday that the comments by Amnesty International and Atiku had helped to validate concerns the party had consistently raised but which were often dismissed as mere partisan rhetoric.
Ememobong said it was significant that an international rights organisation was now echoing what the opposition had long complained about, noting that the current administration has shown little tolerance for dissenting views.
According to him, the government views dissent not as a democratic contribution but as outright opposition, a mindset he said has resulted in efforts to coerce individuals and political actors into joining the ruling party.
He alleged that those who resist such pressure are subjected to intimidation, harassment and threats, insisting that the suppression of free speech and the targeting of opposition figures have become increasingly evident.
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The PDP spokesman accused the APC of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, claiming the ultimate goal was to create conditions that would allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest without serious challenge.
He further alleged that the ruling party had infiltrated nearly all opposition parties, citing developments within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the Labour Party and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as examples.
Despite the situation, Ememobong said the opposition would regroup and rebound, insisting that a political rebirth was already underway, including within the PDP itself.
He described the current phase as a period of renewal for the party, expressing confidence that the opposition would emerge stronger ahead of the next general election.
Ememobong also expressed disappointment that President Tinubu, once known for his strong opposition credentials and democratic advocacy before assuming office, appeared to be abandoning those ideals.
He questioned what benefit the President stood to gain by sacrificing his pre-presidency democratic reputation, especially at a time when, according to him, public dissatisfaction with governance performance was growing.
The PDP spokesman said Nigerians were no longer swayed by political promises but were now judging leaders strictly on performance, arguing that widespread poverty and economic hardship had become defining features of the current administration.
He asserted that the 2027 election would not simply be a contest between political parties but a broader confrontation between the APC and the Nigerian people.