The People Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, July 16, 2015 called the United States of America and the international community to advise President Muhamadu Buhari and the ruling party to observe the tenets of democracy.
The call was made when the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh visited the US’ National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute in Abuja on Thursday.
According to reports in the Vanguard, Metuh said haven ruled Nigeria for 16 years, the PDP expected that the new administration would continue to respect for separation of power and other democratic agencies.
The PDP spokesperson said he was at the institutes to express PDP’s worries over some of the issues happening to the Nigeria democracy within the last two months.
“We are worried about attempt by our government to harass and influence the detention of the Senate’s Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu,’’.
He said contrary tro previous practise, President Buhari has chosen to be traveling abroad with only his party members, thus sidelining other political parties in governance.
“The reason these issues are being raised now is that in less than one week, our President will be visiting USA.”
He also said;“It will be necessary at this point for it to be stressed to him that he should observe the tenets of democracy in Nigeria’’,
He added that the PDP would not accept the outcome of any election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), if Mrs Amina Zakari, remained its head.
“PDP will find it difficult to accept outcome of any election if it loses any election under Zakari’’, because of her close relationship with Buhari.
Metuh commended the institutes’ contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development, and called for their partnership of PDP in opposition.
The Resident Country Director, NDI, Mr Jasper Veen described political parties as fundamental building blocks of any nation. He urged political parties in the country to strengthen their internal democracy.
“If you get right parties internal democracy, other democratic issues will be addressed’’, Veen said.
He added that all political parties and civil society organizations in a country must interact effectively for any country’s democracy to function well.
The Resident Programme Officer, NDI, , said Mr Sentell Barnes, said the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the US had been involved in series of programmes to promote credible elections in Nigeria.
Barnes said US government and the International Republican Institute (IRI) were interested in promoting democratic tenets and independence of electoral institutes in Nigeria.
The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs was created by the US to deepen democratic culture and to channel grants for furthering democracy in developing nations. While, the International Republican Institute is a United Nations-partner organization that conducts international political and institutional programme
