President Bola Tinubu has firmly rejected allegations that his administration is steering Nigeria towards a one-party political structure, amid rising concerns over the defection of several opposition figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing federal lawmakers on Democracy Day, Tinubu asserted his commitment to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, stating unequivocally: “At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present, and no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria.”
His remarks came as opposition leaders raised alarms over what they describe as the systematic weakening of political alternatives. In recent months, multiple governors and federal lawmakers have crossed over from rival parties to join the APC, triggering accusations of coercion and manipulation of state institutions.
The concerns intensified following comments from APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, who suggested there was “nothing wrong” with Nigeria becoming a one-party state — a stance that has stirred discontent in a country grappling with democratic backsliding.
Debo Ologunagba, spokesperson for the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), accused Tinubu’s administration of exploiting “compromised state apparatus” to intimidate and absorb opposition politicians. He warned Nigerians to resist what he described as “a plot to foist a despotic one-party regime.”
Meanwhile, tensions spilled onto the streets of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, where dozens of youth demonstrators protested against alleged government mismanagement and economic hardship, accusing the leadership of enriching itself at public expense.
Criticism has also emerged from within Tinubu’s own party. Senator Ali Ndume of the APC cautioned against any drift toward political monopoly, stating, “One-party dominance is a sign of the death of democracy. We need to have a system that makes it difficult for people to decamp.”
Despite reassurances from the presidency, the debate over Nigeria’s political future continues to deepen, raising critical questions about democratic resilience and institutional integrity in Africa’s most populous nation.