A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Okechukwu, has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s approach to the presidential primary election poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Okechukwu made this comment in response to Atiku’s warning that the country’s democracy is under threat due to the alleged weakening of opposition parties by the current administration.
According to Okechukwu, Atiku’s actions, particularly his breach of the rotation convention in the 2023 presidential election, have contributed to the destabilization of the People’s Democratic Party and the country’s democratic system. The rotation convention, which was established in 1999, is based on the principle of alternating presidential power between the North and South to promote unity, equity, and national stability.
Okechukwu argued that Atiku’s decision to contest the presidential election despite the convention’s stipulation that it was the turn of the South to produce the president, led to the destabilization of the PDP. He also recalled that Atiku had previously walked out of the 2014 PDP National Convention in protest of the party’s breach of the rotation convention, only to later join the APC.
The APC member expressed concern that Atiku is set to repeat the same mistake in the African Democratic Congress, where he is reportedly planning to contest the presidential primary election. Okechukwu described Atiku’s approach as a “Kasuwa Ndollar” primary election, implying that it is driven by financial considerations rather than a commitment to democratic principles.
Okechukwu’s comments come as Atiku has warned that the weakening of opposition parties poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s democratic future. However, Okechukwu argued that Atiku’s own actions have contributed to the weakening of opposition parties and that he cannot blame the current administration for the consequences of his own decisions.
The development highlights the ongoing debate about the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the role of opposition parties in ensuring its stability. As the country prepares for future elections, the issue of rotation convention and its impact on the democratic process is likely to remain a contentious issue.
