ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has stirred fresh controversy after declaring that late Head of State, Sani Abacha, was more democratic than some individuals who claimed to have fought for democracy under the National Democratic Coalition., (NADECO).
Obi made the remark in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, amid the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and recent actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
In the post, the former Anambra State governor criticised what he described as a contradiction between past pro-democracy activism and current political conduct.
Obi wrote: “Yesterday defenders of democracy, today’s destroyers. What a shame.
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“What an irony of history, that the acclaimed defenders of democracy and human rights, who claimed to have fought for democracy during the era of General Sani Abacha, now find themselves worse than the man they opposed.
“Today, General Sani Abacha, once presumed face of oppression, will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days.
“Power indeed reveals character.”
His comments come against the backdrop of escalating tensions within the ADC, following a leadership tussle that has drawn legal battles and regulatory intervention.
Earlier, INEC removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, respectively.
The commission also declined to recognise rival claimant Nafiu Bala Gombe and announced it would suspend recognition of all factions, pending the outcome of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
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INEC said its decision was based on a Court of Appeal ruling directing all parties to maintain the status quo, even as the ADC rejected the commission’s interpretation of the judgment.
Tension around the crisis also spilled into the streets of Abuja, where security agencies mounted a heavy presence around the INEC headquarters in Maitama.
Personnel of the Nigerian Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the State Security Service were deployed to prevent clashes between rival protesters and restrict access to the commission’s premises.