Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Tinubu of turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
According to Wabara no amount of political trick would save the APC from “total defeat in 2027.”
This is coming in the wake of the recent defection of PDP members to the the APC, amongst whom are former and present Delta State governors, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, respectively.
Wabara, further pointed that President Tinubu is muzzling opposition which is exposing his despotic proclivity.
“I have earlier warned against Tinubu turning Nigeria into a one-party state and it’s all coming to pass now. He has no apologies for that, and this is not good for our democracy,” Wabara said.
He said, “the PDP will laugh last because very soon, there will be an implosion in the APC. Those people joining the APC will soon want to displace the party members who have built the APC over the years.
The displaced APC members will look for where to go, and they will simply come over to the PDP.”
Wabara said although “it was expected, and I think we should expect more. But there’s nothing to worry about. That’s politics. We long expected such defections and we know the reason: Some are doing so for second tenure, and some for protection.”
The PDP BoT Chairman pointed that despite the series of defections, the 2027 polls would a ride in the a park for the APC contrary to speculations and overconfidence by the ruling party’s leaders.
Wabara emphasized that Nigerians “who have been subjected to agony and economic hardship as a result of APC’s bad policies and maladministration will use their votes wisely, protect their votes, and ensure that they count.”
“It’s a movement of the leadership and not the followership. Even at that, I have it on good authority that not all the leaders are moving to APC. At the fullness of time, Nigerians will decide. Nigerians will decide the 2027 presidential election, not parties.”
Wabara cited lack of trust for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as one of the reasons for the defections to the ruling APC as political office holders want some form of protection for their political offices.
“Those people defecting know that in 2027, the outcome of the election may not reflect the true will of the people. They may be afraid that the results of the elections may be compromised but Nigerians will not allow such broad-day robbery again.
“The idea of the electoral body writing and announcing any results and asking aggrieved parties to go to court will not work again. Nigerians will vigorously resist anything undemocratic because this country must be made to work for the good of all.
“The fear of the decampees is that the APC might want to give one or two states to the opposition to create the impression that the election was democratic. But the bitter truth is that the 2027 election will be between the APC and Nigerians determined to rescue their country from political hijackers.”