PDP logo and President Bola Tinubu
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a blistering critique of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, accusing it of turning what should be unthinkable in governance into routine practice.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party said that since the emergence of the @OfficialAPCNg / @officialABAT-led government, “things that were previously considered absurd have become normal and are unabating,” warning that recent developments point to a troubling decline in institutional integrity, leadership focus and Nigeria’s global standing.
*Tax Law Controversy Raises Red Flags*
The PDP drew attention to concerns raised by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, over discrepancies between the version of the Tax Act passed by the National Assembly and the copy later gazetted.
According to the party, the disparity demands a thorough investigation and should not be handled with what it described as the “customary levity that this administration has shown toward very serious issues of governance.”
The party insisted Nigerians deserve clarity on how “insertions and substitutions got into the gazetted copy,” warning that such actions amount to a criminal breach capable of eroding public confidence in the legislative process.
It also cautioned the leadership of the House of Representatives against sweeping the matter aside, recalling unresolved public concerns about rumours that Nigeria may be operating two budgets within a single fiscal year.
Commending Hon. Dasuki for his “fastidiousness and courage in the discharge of his legislative duties,” the PDP demanded that the commencement date of the Tax Act be shifted from January 1, 2026, by at least six months. The party said this would allow time for a full investigation, proper publication and circulation of the enacted version, and robust public enlightenment on the new law.
*Declining Global Standing*
The PDP further argued that Nigeria’s regional and international influence has diminished under the APC-led federal government, citing the recent detention of Nigerian Air Force aircraft and personnel in Burkina Faso.
According to the party, the situation persisted for several days until a delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, travelled to negotiate their release, despite what it said was an initial denial by the Federal Government.
The opposition also referenced a White House statement announcing a new regime of stricter visa restrictions on Nigerians, affecting both immigrant and non-immigrant visas. It noted that the decision was linked to rising insecurity and the government’s inability to effectively address the challenge, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
Describing the development as unprecedented, the PDP said Nigeria had not faced such treatment even during periods of military rule, calling it “the lowest that we have gone as a country due to poor leadership.”
*Security, Military Capacity and Leadership Choices*
The statement accused the current leadership of prioritising politics over governance, arguing that instead of tackling core security issues head-on, the administration has embraced what it called “simplistic and tangential solutions.”
The party also criticised the politicisation of security matters, including recent controversies surrounding the attempted promotion of the President’s Aide-De-Camp and other presidential security aides.
It added that Nigeria’s military capacity has steadily declined under the present administration, pointing to the Global Firepower report 2024, where Nigeria reportedly slipped to 39th position from 36th in 2023.
*Tinubu’s Absence at ECOWAS Meeting*
The PDP also questioned President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 68th Ordinary Meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, where pressing issues such as insecurity and political instability were discussed.
While acknowledging that the President had the right to be represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the party argued that his subsequent appearance at a political event the following day created a perception that regional stability was not being given due priority.
According to the PDP, such actions could further weaken Nigeria’s foreign policy posture and contribute to what it described as the diminishing regard for the country among its neighbours and the international community.
*Call for Urgent Course Correction*
In its conclusion, the PDP urged the Tinubu/APC-led federal government to place governance above politics and channel resources into critical sectors such as security, education, roads and healthcare.
The party warned against what it described as the use of public funds to empower political structures ahead of the 2027 elections under the banner of Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
“The stakes are too high for business as usual,” the statement said, stressing that legislative integrity, international standing and regional leadership are national imperatives, not partisan issues.
It added that Nigerians deserve “solutions, not excuses,” calling for evidence-based policies, transparent governance and collaborative problem-solving.
“When institutions fail, democracy suffers. When leadership falters, the nation pays the price,” the party declared.
