The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that the recent announcement by the European Union of its intended pullback from observing the 2027 general elections marks another confirmation of the fears of both local and international stakeholders about the weaknesses and defects that may define the 2027 general elections.
The EU cited “worsening insecurity and hostile treatment” following its 2023 election observation mission as the basis for this decision.
The Turaki-led faction of the PDP in a statement noted that the decision of the EU is historic, as it will be the first Nigerian general election since the return of democracy in 1999 in which the Union will not deploy an election observation mission.
A statement by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee of the PDP, noted that since 2023, the current APC-led Federal Government has intensified efforts at ensuring that the 2027 elections are uncontested in any meaningful sense.
Ememobong particularly said that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC government have deployed different tactics, including but not limited to state-funded crises in opposition political parties, coercion and enticement of opposition Governors and National Legislators, persecution and intimidation of opposition bigwigs.
The PDP also said that the APC government adopted the weaponisation of inflammatory electoral rhetoric- such as the President’s declaration to “snatch it, take it and run with it” and the accompanying disposition that “all is fair in politics”.
The PDP further said that this EU pullback is one of the many votes of no confidence by strategic stakeholders in election management under this APC-led administration.
In the words of the PDP; “When confidence in the electoral process erodes, so does the credibility of elections and, ultimately, democracy itself.
“Elections must be a true reflection of the wishes of the people, freely expressed through the ballot. Any attempt by the ruling party to impose itself on the people, despite its abysmally poor performance in governance, is not just undemocratic and unconstitutional, but must be condemned and resisted by all fair-minded people,” it stated.
The PDP assured that it would work in concert with other opposition political parties, civil society organisations and Nigerians to demand transparency, accountability and sincerity in the entire election process, stressing that this is the irreducible minimum.
