Ever since that defeat, the former ruling party has continued to be haunted by its past legacies of abuse of state powers, embezzlement of public funds, monumental corruption
The Democratic Front (TDF) has described the gale of defections in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP as more of a reflection of the party’s internal affairs than a deliberate effort to emasculate the opposition.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the group expressed disappointment with the opposition’s resort to blackmail.
It said: “We are indeed disappointed that some opposition figures in the country have resorted to cheap blackmail, by accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of igniting rancour among its members.
“This is, for us, a shameless bid to conceal their inherent failure and lack of political brinkmanship to manage their party’s internal political affairs.
“Notable in the ongoing politics of deceit and cheap blackmail are leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose selfish lust for power triggered a major crisis that led to implosion in the PDP.
“TDF is not oblivious of the fact that the PDP has been consistently ravaged by a self-inflicted crisis since it was dazed and defeated by the APC in the 2015 presidential election, ten years ago.
“Ever since that defeat, the former ruling party has continued to be haunted by its past legacies of abuse of state powers, embezzlement of public funds, monumental corruption, and outright betrayal of trust of the Nigerian people.
“The party’s inability to present a presidential candidate whose personal image and integrity is unblemished, since 2015 till date, further entrenched its widely perceived image as a political party for the looters of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
“The recent gale of defection that hit the PDP in Delta State was not as a result of any imaginary influence or interference of President Tinubu, or the APC as alleged by opposition, but a show of protestation by some members of the party against the scheming of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to remain perpetually, its presidential standard bearer, against the dictates of the party’s internal democracy.
“We are also of the view that the relevant section of the constitution that guarantees individual freedom of association, is not exclusively limited to any individual or group. It is the inalienable right of every Nigerian to join any group or political party of his choice. Therefore, the defection of PDP members in Delta State to APC should be seen within the context of their legitimate rights to freely associate with any group or party of their choice.
“It is our belief that claims of a looming one-party state by the opposition are spurious, baseless and unfounded. The collapse of Atiku’s ill-nurtured political coalition against President Tinubu was not based on external interference by anyone but a direct consequence of the selfishness, dishonesty, and grand mischief which the leprous coalition represented.
The group also called on leaders and members of opposition parties to eschew the politics of selfishness and bitterness that caused the stillbirth of Atiku’s coalition against President Tinubu.