- PDP Governors, Presidency Trade Words Over By-Election Conduct
- Presidency and APC dismiss accusations, saying PDP is making excuses for defeat.
- APC hails electoral victories as proof of dominance and Tinubu’s growing support.
Governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform have accused the Federal Government of intimidation and anti-democratic practices during the August 9 by-elections.
The elections, held to fill vacant Senate and House of Representatives seats, saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) win 12 constituencies, the PDP secure one, the All Progressives Grand Alliance take two, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party clinch one.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a communiqué issued after a meeting in Gusau, Zamfara State, the PDP Governors’ Forum alleged that the polls were “over-militarised” and marred by irregularities, vote-buying, and violence. The governors commended their supporters’ loyalty despite what they described as “serious intimidation and untold anti-democratic actions” by the APC-led government. They insisted that defections within the PDP would not weaken its appeal or Nigerians’ desire for improved living conditions and security under PDP-style governance.
The communiqué also warned that the ruling party’s tactics reflected desperation and a lack of vision, predicting that Nigerians would reject the APC in future elections.
Responding, the Presidency dismissed the accusations as baseless. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, argued that the PDP was merely making excuses after losing. He maintained that opposition parties were not harassed, and candidates were protected during the polls. Ajayi stressed that the Tinubu-led government remained focused on repositioning the economy and would not be distracted by “falsehoods from the opposition.”
Similarly, APC leaders rubbished the PDP’s claims. Saleh Zazzaga, Chairman of the APC Forum in North-Central, described the PDP as divided and irrelevant. He argued that the by-election victories in Kano, Kogi, and Zamfara showed Nigerians’ continued confidence in President Tinubu and predicted a repeat in 2027.
