The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has reacted to a report by the Human Rights Foundation classifying Nigeria as a “full authoritarian regime” under President Bola Tinubu, saying it confirms what Nigerians have been experiencing under the APC-led Federal Government.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Interim National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong Essien, the PDP said the report on the foundation’s Tyranny Tracker platform was a global confirmation of the local reality of democratic decline in Nigeria.
According to the party, the assessment showed Nigeria performed abysmally low on all critical pillars, including faulty electoral processes, absence of protection for dissent, erosion of democratic safeguards, and collapse of checks and balances by national institutions.
The PDP noted that the parameters used by the Human Rights Foundation align with features of authoritarian regimes such as rule by a dictator or single party, lack of institutional checks, loss of freedom of speech, targeting of opposition, and weak elections.
“It does not take any high degree of intelligence for anybody to agree with the report, because all the indicators of authoritarianism are present in Nigeria, under this Tinubu regime,” the statement said.
The opposition party cited the recent attacks on Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, the Catholic Church and Christianity generally by administration officials as evidence of shrinking civic space and intolerance of dissent.
It also faulted the National Assembly for failing to provide meaningful oversight, alleging that an administration that failed to execute the Appropriation Act for three years still received commendation instead of condemnation from lawmakers.
The PDP further accused the Federal Government of weaponising security agencies against perceived opponents, asphyxiating the opposition, and showing signs of partisanship by the electoral umpire ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We call on the Tinubu APC administration to immediately take critical steps to de-escalate the political tensions emanating from actions traceable to their officials and their proxies, in the interest of the survival of democracy,” the party said.
The PDP urged Nigerians to continue to demand accountability from leaders at all levels, warning that an attempt to win the 2027 presidency “at all costs” may jeopardize the country itself. “Only a free, fair, credible and peaceful contest can guarantee a win for both coveted prizes,” it added.
