Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has stirred political debate after describing late Head of State, Sani Abacha, as “more democratic” than some individuals who once championed democracy under the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Obi made the remarks in a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, where he criticised what he described as a reversal of democratic values among former activists.
“Yesterday’s defenders of democracy are today’s destroyers. What an irony of history,” Obi stated. “The same individuals who claimed to have fought for democracy during the Abacha era now appear worse than the man they opposed.”
The comment comes against the backdrop of ongoing internal disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as well as recent actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC recently removed the names of Senator David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola from its records as the party’s national chairman and national secretary, respectively. The commission also declined recognition of Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking leadership of the party through the courts.
In response to the leadership tussle and a ruling by the Court of Appeal, INEC announced it would suspend recognition of all factions within the party and refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses until the matter is resolved at the Federal High Court.
The crisis has heightened tensions around INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, where security was reinforced on Thursday to prevent clashes between rival groups of protesters. Personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the State Security Service (SSS) were deployed to maintain order and restrict access to the area.
Meanwhile, the ADC has rejected INEC’s interpretation of the appellate court ruling, further deepening the uncertainty surrounding the party’s leadership.
Obi’s remarks, coming at a politically sensitive moment, are expected to fuel further reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape.
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