Presidency: Tinubu not turning Nigeria into one-party state — democracy not under threat

The presidency has responded to the criticism that trailed recent defections of opposition leaders into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Last Wednesday, Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, his immediate predecessor, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC.

Other top PDP chieftains in Delta also defected to the ruling APC.

There have also been defections of members of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) into the APC.

On April 24, Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of APC, welcomed top political figures from Kano state who defected from the NNPP.

However, the wave of defections into the ruling party has been seen by many stakeholders and critics as an attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party country.

Some opposition politicians, including Dele Momodu, the publisher of the Ovation magazine, accused the ruling party of coercing people into its fold.

But in a statement issued on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, media aide to the president, said the allegations that Tinubu is promoting a one-party state are “false, baseless, exaggerated”.

Onanuga said the presidency has no official policy designed to weaken opposition parties as being claimed in some quarters.

The presidential spokesperson said it is not the responsibility of the president to strengthen or organise opposition parties.

Onanuga said those who are criticising the recent defections did not raise any question when some politicians are forming a coalition to unseat the president in 2027.

He added that democracy is not in danger because politicians are exercising their rights to freedom of association.

“Contrary to the false claims in the propaganda materials in circulation across mainstream and social media, democracy is not under any threat in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“Accusations that the administration is moving towards authoritarianism are baseless and exaggerated.

“We must add that no policy, official action, or directive from the Presidency seeks to “dismantle democracy” or “weaken opposition or create a one-party state.

“Accusations of bribery, blackmail, and the weaponisation of state institutions only exist in the idle minds of politicians and their agents who have failed in their assigned role of opposition and are fishing for scapegoats.

“The opposition cannot blame President Tinubu and the governing APC for their poor organisation, indiscipline, and gross incompetence in managing their affairs.

“It is certainly not part of President Tinubu’s job to organise or strengthen opposition parties.

“We find it curious that those who celebrated the defection of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the formation of a regional grand coalition with the sole aim of defeating President Tinubu in the 2027 election are the same people shedding crocodile tears over Nigeria’s so-called drift to a one-party state and authoritarianism.

“While the latter-day defenders of democracy raised no anxious voice against the disgruntled politicians cobbling an anti-Tinubu, anti-APC coalition along dangerous regional lines, even before INEC blows the whistle for party politicking.

“They are quick to ascribe the political shifts in some states to “bribery, blackmail, and coercion” without any shred of evidence.

“Without any equivocation, freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of choice are part of the cherished ideals of democracy.

“When politicians and citizens cannot freely join any association or political party of their choice or cannot openly express their views, democracy is imperilled.

“Those opposed to the Tinubu administration should understand that they can issue diatribes, without fear, against the government because we practice a thriving democracy.”