The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said Democracy Day would have been meaningful if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)had not rigged the February 25 presidential election.
Speaking in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP also said that APC dishonoured the late Chief Moshood Abiola by being the beneficiary of the compromised election.
It stated that the will of Nigerians was circumvented in favour of APC on February 25 in much the same way it was done on June 12, 1993.
PDP further urged Nigerians to use the June 12 Democracy Day to accentuate the demand for the entrenchment of democratic tenets in the country.
It said it was “distasteful, offensive and unacceptable for the nation to observe the Democracy Day under a system that violated, desecrated and despoiled all the tenets of Democracy as witnessed in brazen rigging that characterized the 2023 general elections.
“The barefaced manipulations of the 2023 general elections by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), amounts to an unpardonable assault and rape of Democracy and disregard for the will of the people; the very ills which Chief MKO Abiola fought and died for.
“June 12 epitomizes the struggle by Nigerians against corrupt, manipulative and anti-democratic system; against injustice, impunity and electoral fraud, which INEC, under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, now represents.
“It is indeed heartrending that all the steady progress and gains made by successive PDP administrations in reforming our electoral system have been completely wiped off by INEC in the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
“Our Party, however, urges Nigerians not to despair but remain optimistic and law-abiding in their hope for a better nation which they earnestly yearn for.
“The PDP charges all the leaders at all levels across the country to be guided by the essence of June 12 by always adhering to the principles of democracy in the overall interest of the Nigerians people,” the party said.
