The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of lacking the spirit of democratic sportsmanship.
PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagun, made this known on Thursday, during a meeting with the European Union Election Observation Follow-up Mission in Abuja.
He lamented that the ruling party has consistently undermined electoral integrity in Nigeria.
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Damagun pointed to the conduct of recent elections as evidence, insisting that the process remained plagued with irregularities.
He said: “Unfortunately, this spirit of democratic sportsmanship has not been matched by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“As you have observed, the conduct of recent elections continues to be marred by widespread irregularities, ranging from the abuse of state resources and security institutions, to blatant voter suppression and intimidation.”
He added that the process was also plagued by vote-buying and the deliberate subversion of electoral processes.”
He further stressed that such practices erode public confidence in the country’s democracy and create unnecessary political tension.
According to him, the European Union’s (EU) observations on the Nigerian electoral process have only reinforced what opposition parties and civil society groups have repeatedly raised concerns about.
The PDP chairman assured that the opposition would continue to engage stakeholders, both locally and internationally, to ensure that credible reforms are implemented before the 2027 general elections.
He added: “We remain committed to strengthening democracy in Nigeria and will work with partners to restore the people’s confidence in elections.
“The future of our democracy depends on fairness, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law.”
Damagun urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly to prioritize reforms that will block loopholes that the APC allegedly exploits during elections.
