The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the 2027 election will be a referendum on the abysmal failure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, at a media briefing on Wednesday, told President Bola Tinubu and the APC to perish the thought of Nigeria relapsing into a one-party state.

According to him, mass defections into the APC will not save the ruling party from defeat, because it’s Nigerians that will vote and not the defectors.

“We have been witnesses to comments by the President in a public forum, indicating his preference for a one-party state.

“We must emphasise that the election of 2027 is not going to be about defections. It’s going to be a referendum on the failure of the APC; the insecurity in the land, the lack of provision of amenities, and basic things for human existence, the fact that everyday Nigerians are losing their personality because of the misguided policies of the president.

“We have stated severally the need for a review of policy by the government; what the people are saying, you take a second look. When you do that, that is leadership, that is strength not weakness. But the APC believes that when they make a decision, you either take it or leave it.

“People are complaining that they are dying by installment. That life is grinding into a halt and the president and his team, and his government, are numb to that. In the last two years, over 600 Nigerians have been killed. It’s on record.

“Then you see this government celebrating defection as if it’s celebrating a successful implementation of policies. So it’s a government that believes in propaganda.

“Propaganda does not replace hunger. Propaganda does not replace commitment to the people and believing in God. The question that every Nigerian is asking today is; am I better two years ago than I am right now? The answer is obvious, and we are all in the same market.

“You could talk about money, about devaluation, that renders whatever you are earning taking you below the poverty line. Today, by world record, or by world reports, over 100 million Nigerians survive on less $2 a day,” Ologunagba said.

The party restated its opposition to President Tinubu’s request for fresh $24. 5 billion loan, questioning the purposes the president said the loans would be used for.

The PDP spokesman said it’s annoying for a government that claimed to have saved trillions of Naira from fuel subsidy removal to be seeking to borrow more money to “cushion the effects of subsidy removal.”

Continuing, he said, “We were here when they said to us, we are going to remove subsidies, therefore, we will not borrow anymore, that we are not going to put subsidy on petrol, and therefore, there will be more money to provide cushioning policies and programmes and take away the pain of the subsidy removal.

“Now, the question is, where is the money? If indeed, you are going to borrow money to cushion the effect of subsidy removal two years after.

“Many people have died on account of the irresponsibility of this government, because of their impoverishment and that’s why we are here.

“They said that part of the money they want to borrow will be used to take care of pensioners. Pension is a contributory scheme. So where is the money?

“The National Assembly should interrogate these loans but they are not doing that. Of course, they have declared that whatever the president says, is okay by them, and we have seen it. These are the things that Nigerians are going to challenge in 2027.

“One thing is clear, and Nigerians should recognise that, we are not in opposition to just criticise. It is better for this country to do well, so that all of us can benefit from it.

“It is not in our interest that the government fails. But the government must be ready to listen to alternative views that could help us build a country that all of us can have what we call the pursuit of happiness.”