The newly elected National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, has characterised the recent violent confrontation at the party’s national headquarters as a disgraceful event indicative of a decline in Nigeria’s democratic values.
Ememobong’s remarks came during a Tuesday appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, where he expressed dismay over the standoff at the Wadata Plaza in Abuja.
He questioned the legitimacy of the gathering that sparked the conflict and highlighted a worrying trend in the nation’s political culture. “Is that a NEC meeting? Every NEC meeting must be monitored by INEC. It’s very shameful and a pity that this is happening after six election cycles,” Ememobong stated.
The PDP spokesman argued that such incidents undermine the principles of democracy, which should be firmly established by now. “Democratic consolidation should be firm. Democratic norms should be valued. They should form part of our way of life. Sadly, every election cycle seems to be getting worse,” he lamented.
He further criticised what he described as a minority faction attempting to impose its will on the majority, a move contrary to democratic tenets. “In a democracy, the majority will have their way, and the minority will have their say. But what you have now is a minority trying to impose its will on the majority,” Ememobong told his interviewers.
Beyond the political implications, the lawyer issued a stern warning about the physical dangers the clash posed to party members. He recalled that several Nigerians had died from inhaling tear gas in past incidents and accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of fostering an environment hostile to opposition parties.
The violent incident has drawn condemnation from various quarters and continues to stir debate about the internal stability of one of Nigeria’s major political parties.
