The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) for celebrating recent defections into its fold while Nigerians grapple with worsening economic hardship and rising insecurity across the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, accused the ruling party of being insensitive to the plight of ordinary citizens, stating that the APC is treating political defections as though they were indicators of successful governance.
He said: “This government is celebrating defections as if it’s celebrating successful implementation of policies, while Nigerians are struggling to survive.
“People are crying out that they’re dying, that life is unbearable, yet the APC remains numb and unresponsive.”
Ologunagba said the 2027 general elections would not be determined by party defections but would be a referendum on the failures of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, especially in areas such as security, economy, and basic human welfare.
“The election of 2027 will not be about who defected or didn’t defect. It will be about the failure of the APC — about the hunger in the land, the killings, and the lack of leadership. Nigerians are watching and will respond,” he said.
He further took aim at the federal government’s recent request for a $24.5 billion loan, calling it a betrayal of the administration’s earlier promise that subsidy removal would eliminate the need for borrowing.
“They told Nigerians that fuel subsidy was removed so the government would stop borrowing and instead invest in programs to cushion the effect of the policy. Now they want to borrow $24.5 billion for that same purpose. Where is the money saved from subsidy removal?” he asked.
On internal matters, Ologunagba dismissed claims that the PDP’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on May 27 was illegal, asserting it was a bold stand against what he described as President Tinubu’s attempt to impose a one-party system in Nigeria.
“Our NEC meeting was a strong message — that Nigerians still want democracy, and they look to the PDP as a credible opposition. We are a party governed by structures and the rule of law. No one owns the PDP,” he stated.
He accused the Tinubu administration of running on propaganda while Nigerians continued to suffer.
“The question every Nigerian is asking is simple: ‘Am I better off than I was two years ago?’ The answer is clear to everyone — we are all in the same market,” Ologunagba stated.
The PDP reiterated its commitment to internal democracy and national recovery, positioning itself as the only viable alternative to the APC as 2027 approaches.