Nigeria is currently practising “coerced democracy in the desperate efforts of the ruling All Progressives Congress to win the 2027 general elections at all cost”.
A group, Save Our Democracy, stated this in an interview with THE WHISTLER in Enugu on Thursday. The group claimed that Nigeria’s democracy “is headed for a cul-de-sac if relevant authorities and agencies fail to up their games in its preservation”.
The group’s leader, Mr Elias Njoku, expressed surprise over what he called “uncontrolled verbal threats of the APC political officer-holders” to their subjects. He said, “I specifically point at the Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory as well as the Governor of Ebonyi State. Both leaders gave orders to their subordinates to vote for APC candidates or face the consequences as if people don’t have civil liberties any longer. Ironically, no caution has been issued to them from security agencies expect from NGOs. Such cannot deepen our democracy.”
Also speaking, a lawyer, Hyginus Okafor, said such threats amount to abuse of office and power drunk. “They are afraid of free and fair elections. It surprises me because with the allocations at their disposal, no executives should entertain fears in winning free and fair polls. They should simply use public resources at their disposal to roll out dividends of democracy to the masses. It is not rocket science. But they want to embezzle and still want the support of the people. I wish to tell the masses to ignore them and vote according to their choice. It is our right as citizens.”
Mrs Nneka Okafor, a retired teacher, said, “APC is battling with misuse of oil subsidy money. I’m happy when FCT Minister Nyesome Wike charged state governors to account for federal allocations accruing to their respective states. Blames are shifting ground: from federal to states, and even LGAs. They have failed. In 2027, Nigerians will tell them how we have suffered. No threat can change our voting pattern. They weaponised poverty. It is now fighting back. A majority of Nigerians have now built poverty-induced-collective consciousness. The threat is a sign of anxiety and desperation facing APC.”
She called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that its gadgets for electronic transmission of voting results in real time are test-run to avoid glitches.
Gov Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State reportedly warned the newly elected council chairmen in the state to deliver APC in 2027 or face sack. On his part, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Danjuma Shekwolo, asked any residents of the area who are not going to vote for APC to leave.