Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and two-time presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has raised the alarm over the state of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the country is slipping back into civilian dictatorship. Speaking on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief, Momodu said Nigeria’s political system is under threat, especially as the nation prepares to celebrate Democracy Day on June 12.
“The truth is, we’ve damaged this democracy,” Momodu said. “What we’re witnessing now is the rise of bold and shameless political leaders who treat Nigerians with total disregard. We’re hungry, and nobody seems to care.” He added that the current state of affairs would leave the heroes of the June 12 struggle heartbroken.
Momodu didn’t hold back in criticizing his own party, blaming Minister Nyesom Wike for the internal crisis rocking the PDP. He accused Wike of hijacking the party and dictating its future direction especially the 2027 presidential ticket. “This is a political coup against the PDP,” Momodu said. “Wike is acting like a man above the party, and even above the country.”
He also condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks, in which the president reportedly referred to concerned citizens as “busybodies” and “bystanders” during the reopening of the Abuja International Conference Centre. “Who is a bystander in his own country?” Momodu asked, saying Wike’s influence is so strong it now feels like Nigeria has two presidents.
Despite his frustration with the PDP, Momodu made it clear he has no plans to defect to the ruling APC. “My soul is out of PDP,” he said. “But I can’t join APC either. I won’t be part of a system where one man controls everyone.” He ended with a warning: “Unless we fix our politics, Nigeria is heading for autocracy.”