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ABUJA – The Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lamented that Nigeria’s democracy is still struggling 33 years after the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, accusing the Federal Government of failing to uphold the democratic ideals for which many Nigerians sacrificed their lives.
In a statement issued on Democracy Day by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the INWC said the significance of June 12 lies not only in the memory of the acclaimed freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history but also in the sacrifices made by citizens who fought to defend the people’s mandate following the annulment of the poll.
According to the PDP, the June 12 election demonstrated the capacity of Nigerians to rise above ethnic, religious and regional divisions in pursuit of national progress. The party, however, noted that anti-democratic forces at the time resisted the popular will, leading to nationwide protests and the loss of many lives.
Reflecting on the state of democracy more than three decades later, the PDP argued that the core lessons of June 12 remain largely ignored by the current administration. The party called on the Federal Government to respect democratic principles, protect civil liberties, guarantee the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and protest, and ensure that opposition voices are not suppressed.
The PDP also stressed the importance of an independent and impartial electoral system, urging the nation’s electoral umpire to uphold transparency and fairness as fundamental requirements for democratic survival.
