President rejects allegations of one‑party rule as defections rise.
President Bola Tinubu has publicly denied claims that his administration is pursuing a one-party state, amid rising defections from opposition ranks to the APC. Critics fear democratic backsliding as political opposition weakens.
In his Democracy Day address, Tinubu emphasized his support for multiparty democracy, distancing himself from remarks by APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje that hinted Nigeria could become a single-party system—comments that triggered outrage and concern among civil society and opposition figures.
Opposition parties such as the PDP and ADC have accused the government of leveraging state institutions to pressure politicians into defecting. Even within the APC, some senior lawmakers have warned that dominance by one party undermines democratic norms.
Observers say institutional safeguards are needed to preserve political space and prevent erosion of Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 elections.
I'm Adedayo Obadina
Talksocialtalks
