The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has issued a strong warning against actions it says are threatening Nigeria's multiparty democratic system and the internal stability of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alarm Over Threats to Democratic Framework
Speaking over the weekend at the group's secretariat in Warri, Delta State, the National Coordinator of the NDYC, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, stated that recent political developments require urgent national reflection. The congress highlighted concerns about how opposition voices are being treated and the weakening of party structures essential for a healthy democracy.
The youth body pointed specifically to recent comments by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State as bringing critical issues like constitutionalism and institutional independence back into focus. According to the NDYC, these concerns mirror wider public anxiety about the survival of political pluralism and the need to protect spaces for dissent within Nigeria's political landscape.
The NDYC emphasised that a vibrant multiparty system is the bedrock of accountability and good governance. It warned that any moves designed to cripple opposition parties or sabotage their internal processes pose a severe risk to the nation's overall democratic stability.
Internal PDP Crisis and Rivers State Tensions
The congress expressed deep worry over the visible divisions within the PDP, describing them as harmful to both the party's unity and its ability to provide effective democratic competition. It argued that prolonged internal conflict erodes the institutional strength that opposition parties need to function properly in a multiparty system.
Furthermore, the NDYC voiced significant alarm over the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State. It stated that the prolonged instability, which it blamed on the continued interference and destabilising influence of Chief Nyesom Wike, could severely impact governance, public trust, and development in the state.
"Rivers State, a critical economic and political nerve centre of the Niger Delta, has been subjected to needless political tension, institutional paralysis, and manufactured crises designed to undermine legitimate authority and governance," the group declared.
A Call for Dialogue and Constitutional Order
In its statement, the NDYC called for maximum restraint and respect for established democratic processes. It stressed the importance of allowing institutions to function without undue external pressure or interference from political actors.
Reiterating its commitment to democratic values, the youth congress urged leaders across all levels to prioritise national dialogue, constitutional order, and national cohesion over narrow partisan interests. It maintained that safeguarding Nigeria's democracy is a collective responsibility requiring both the governing party and opposition actors to adhere strictly to democratic norms.
The NDYC concluded that Nigeria's democracy can only be strengthened through fairness, institutional independence, and genuine respect for political pluralism. It offered a stark reminder: "When opposition parties are crippled through inducement, intimidation, and internal destruction, democracy is reduced to a hollow ritual and governance becomes dangerously monopolistic."
