Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has criticised the Federal Government over the reported teargassing of activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore during a Democracy Day protest in Abuja, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to uphold democratic values 33 years after the historic June 12, 1993 election.
The PDP, in a statement issued on June 12, 2026, by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said that the reported treatment of peaceful protesters on a day dedicated to celebrating democracy raised serious issues about the state of civil liberties in Nigeria.
The party said Democracy Day should serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerians who fought to defend the mandate of the June 12, 1993 election, which it described as “the freest and fairest in our history.”
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Nigerians from different ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds, according to the PDP, came together during that election and voted in a way that reflected a united nation seeking progress. The party also recalled that efforts by anti-democratic forces to frustrate the people’s will resulted in nationwide resistance and led to the loss of many lives.
Reflecting on the current political climate, the PDP said the lessons of June 12 are still relevant and should guide the actions of government institutions and political leaders.
The party called on the Federal Government to “act responsibly to uphold democracy, to guarantee civil rights such as the right to peaceful assembly and protest, and to protect the democratic rights of the opposition.”
The PDP also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and other democratic institutions to remain transparent and impartial in carrying out their responsibilities.
Nonetheless, according to the party, recent developments showed that the lessons of June 12 had not been fully embraced by the current administration.
“Reality check, however, provides damning evidence that under this APC-led Federal Government, the lessons of June 12 remain painfully unlearnt,” the statement said.
The party specifically referred to reports that protesters were dispersed with tear gas in Abuja on Democracy Day, stating that Sowore was injured during the incident.
“Today, of all days, a day set aside to honour the blood of democratic martyrs, peaceful protesters were teargassed and assaulted in Abuja,” the PDP stated.
The PDP said: “Omoleye Sowore was reportedly injured and hospitalised for doing nothing more than demanding the immediate release of schoolchildren and teachers held hostage across different parts of the country.”
The PDP used the incident to criticise the Tinubu administration’s approach to governance.
“This Tinubu administration unashamedly prioritises optics over action, propaganda over policy, and dwells in a dangerous utopian self-delusion,” the statement said.
The PDP insisted that Democracy Day should be more than a yearly remembrance of past struggles, arguing that the occasion should reflect the continued strengthening of democratic institutions and freedoms.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the PDP called on Nigerians to remain alert and committed to defending democratic principles. The party expressed hope that this year’s Democracy Day observance would remind citizens of the need for vigilance and continued demands for democratic consolidation.
“The sacrifices of the past must not be reduced to ceremonial memory. They must be active warnings, that this country must never again travel the path of state-engineered anti-democratic actions,” the party said.
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