The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the lockdown extension across the country by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 led by the Secretary-General to the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

It said the Federal Government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is confused with the way its handling Coronavirus. The opposition in a statement by its publicity secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said it was wrong for the Secretary of the Federation, Boss Mustapha to announce the extension of gradual lockdown even when the president is alive.

Mr Ologbodiyan said the refusal of Mr Buhari to give national broadcast on Monday was an abuse of power.

“Our party points out that nowhere in our laws are the powers to broadcast Presidential executive orders to declare curfew and restriction of movements vested in the Office of the SGF.”

“The action of the SGF has brought serious confusion in the polity regarding the legality or otherwise of the directives contained in the SGF’s announcement.”

“Such powers are vested in the person and office of Mr President and not exercisable by proxy, directly or indirectly; which makes the action of the SGF a recipe for serious constitutional crisis in our country.”

“Our nation is a state governed by dictates of the law, particularly in the exercise of powers vested in statutory offices, especially that of the President.”

“The PDP holds that the announcement by the SGF is, therefore, another manifestation of abuse of our statutory offices arising from the abdication of responsibilities by President Buhari for the last five years, which had also become more pronounced in this fight against COVID-19.”

“Our party, therefore, invites Mr. President to end the confusion in the polity, arising from the action of the SGF, by immediately addressing Nigerians in his official capacity to fulfill the demands of our laws in respect of the necessary protocols on restrictions and other management procedures in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in our country.”