Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stirred controversy after describing late Head of State, Sani Abacha, as more democratic than some pro-democracy activists from the National Democratic Coalition era.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate made the remarks on his X handle amid the ongoing crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and recent developments involving Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Obi, “Yesterday defenders of democracy, today’s destroyers. What a shame.
“What an irony of history, that the acclaimed defenders of democracy and human rights, who claimed to have fought for democracy during the era of General Sani Abacha, now find themselves worse than the man they opposed.
“Today, General Sani Abacha, once presumed face of oppression, will be remembered as seemingly more democratic and more respectful of human rights than the so-called champions of activism from the NADECO days.
“Power indeed reveals character.”
His comments come after INEC removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as ADC national chairman and secretary, respectively, while also declining to recognise a rival claimant to the party’s leadership.
Meanwhile, security operatives including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and State Security Service were deployed around INEC headquarters in Abuja to prevent clashes between rival protesters.